The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has pledged to refocus the anti-corruption war by adopting modalities capable of stimulating economic growth and development in the overall interests of Nigerians.
The Chairman gave this assurance while addressing staff of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC at the Commission’s Office, GRA, Ilorin.
Reiterating his remarks before the Senate at his confirmation screening, Mr. Olukoyede promised a paradigm shift in the agency’s approach to the anti-graft war to make it more proactive and result-oriented.
“There is a need for us to refocus our attention on EFCC. We need to define our scope of mandate to stimulate the economy of the country. The era of stifling and crippling of businesses with unwarranted PNDs is gone. We must be able to separate proceeds of crime from legitimate funds. We must use the instrumentality of our mandate to create wealth and jobs for people. We will also use the instrumentality of our mandate to create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive for sustainable economic growth”, he said.
The EFCC chairman also pledged to prioritise staff welfare, stressing that he was already in talks with the government for necessary support. “We have done it before and we are going to do it again”, he assured.
He tasked officers of the Commission to be above board and avoid acts of compromise in the line of duty stressing that as anti-graft officers, “we owe our nation the sacred duty of making this country free of corruption and its kindred crimes.”
Mr. Olukoyede who spoke extensively on his plans to move the anti-graft fight to the next level, urged staff of the Commission to continue to work together for a good course and see themselves as a body of officers having the same rights and privileges as encapsulated in Section 8 (5) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004.
The Zonal Commander, EFCC, Ilorin, Mr. Michael Nzekwe and his management team were all in attendance to receive Mr Olukoyede.
Dominica Nwabufo
