Civil Society Organisations Restate Support for Anti-graft Agency 

Civil Society Organisations, CSOs in Oyo State, have reiterated their support for Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the task of fighting economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.

A statement signed by the Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, reveals that the CSOs made the commitment at the “EFCC/CSOs Engagement“ programme held in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

In the statement, the Executive Chairman, EFCC,  Ola Olukoyede, lauded the strategic  roles CSOs play in the fight against corruption, stating that the engagement with the CSOs was to share ideas on how to deepen the fight against corruption.

The EFCC boss, who spoke through the Ibadan Zonal Commander, Assistant Commander of the EFCC,  ACE1  Halima Mustapha Rufa’u,  expressed appreciation to the CSOs and urged them to continue to align themselves with the progressive aspirations of Nigerians for corruption to be reduced to the barest minimum, if not completely eliminated.

He said: “You are one of the most critical allies of the EFCC. Our partnership has been progressive and is still evolving. We greatly value your critical reviews as they have ensured that we remain faithful to the Nigerian people in the discharge of our mandate.”

In her Speech, the Deputy Director, Creative Communications of the EFCC, DCE Nwayinma Okeano, challenged CSOs to correct people’s misconception about the EFCC’s anti-corruption activities in their various communities.

She reassured them that the EFCC was open to the public, urging the CSOs to always send complaints and petitions using various channels of communication.

“Reorient the public about what we do. Let me say clearly that no crime is too big or too small. The same way we are arresting politicians, is also the same way we are arresting internet fraudsters,”  she stated.

While giving suggestions on areas they think the EFCC could explore, Dr Rosemary Odigbo, one of the arrow heads of the CSOs, stressed that the fight against corruption should not be left to the EFCC alone, pointing out that all citizens and stakeholders had roles to play through strategic partnerships.

Odigbo enjoined the Commission to explore other areas in sending the anti-corruption message, such as entertainment, social media, partnering with telecommunication organisations, frequent town hall meetings, and creating and sustaining advocacy groups,  among others.

The discussion also centred on how to incorporate corruption studies into school curriculum across the country, as the CSOs claimed that it is the duty of parents to start the fight from home when the children are young, by encouraging them to learn handwork to earn a living, because unemployment is one of the reasons a lot of the youths are into crimes.

The CSOs also urged the EFCC to go after musicians and celebrities who promote yahoo practices in their songs and lifestyle.

They advised the Commission to work more with the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, NBC and the National Film and Video Censor Board for the regulation of contents that do not edify the public.

At the end of the interaction, a communique to help strengthen the working relationship between the EFCC and CSOs  in the Ibadan Zonal  Command was issued.

Confidence Okwuchi