Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has charged the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, to evolve functional strategies and initiatives to tackle corruption and improve governance at the local government level.
He gave the charge on Tuesday, at a two-day national workshop and Official Flag-off of Anti-Corruption Preventive Tools in Abuja, titled War Against Corruption at Grassroots holding at the EFCC Academy.
Olukoyede who spoke through the Secretary to the Commission, Mohammed Hammajoda, tasked the association to leverage on their collective wisdom, experiences in coming up with strategies and initiatives to strengthen the fight against corruption through transparency and accountability in local government administration.
“As we delve into the discussions over the next few days, let us leverage on the collective wisdom, experiences, and insights of our distinguished guests and participants. Together, we can forge strategies and initiatives that will not only strengthen the fight against corruption but also enhance transparency and accountability in our local governance structures,” he said.
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He called for radical improvement of governance at the grassroots, maintaining that only determined efforts against corruption would offer Nigerians a new lease of life.
Chairman Board of Trustees, ALGON, Odunayo Ategbero said prevention of corruption is better than cure, highlighting the need for a bottom-top approach in tackling corruption.
He noted that this would offer meaningful development to Nigerians.
“Therefore, the third tier of government, which is the local government, is where corruption can be effectively prevented, because prevention is better than cure,” he stated.
Ategbero explained that, “the fight against corruption and other societal ills bedeviling our country is the collective responsibility of everyone in our society.
Therefore, a forum like this is needed to create awareness for all and sundry to tackle corruption headlong.”
He equally tasked the EFCC to enforce the fight against corruption at all levels of governance in Nigeria.
Minister for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Zaphaniah Bitrus Jisalo, who commended the initiatives of the EFCC and ALGON concerning the workshop, called for robust discussions, exchange of ideas and proper implementation of resolutions at the end of the workshop.
Spokesperson for the commission, Dele Oyewale stated that the two day workshop, targeted at local government chairmen, coordinators of development area centers, local government secretaries, heads of personnel management, treasurers, local government auditors, council speakers and other workers is expected to leverage on their mobilization and sensitization for accountable and prudent management of resources at the local level.
