Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has advised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC ) to avoid the temptation of being used for partisan politics. He urged the anti-graft agency to refrain from being used by individuals to settle personal differences. The President made this revelation yesterday at the State House in Abuja, Nigeria while speaking about the EFCC Standard Operating Procedures, Policies and Manuals.
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President Buhari had this to say, “I must advise the leadership and operatives of this commission to resist the temptation of being used for partisan politics or be dragged into personal disputes. Your job is to serve the nation in its efforts to entrench good governance,” he said.
The President also lauded the brilliant performance of the leadership of the EFCC in ascertaining about 2,220 convictions in one year and recovering over one hundred and fifty-two billion naira, as well as three hundred and eighty-five million dollars (N152 billion and $385 million).
“I am glad to note that the war against corruption, which is one of the cardinal objectives of this administration, is being strengthened through the institutionalisation of operational procedures particularly as they form the building blocks of transparency and accountability in administration and public expenditure,” he added.
“I need not underscore the importance of today’s occasion but let me remind you that the stakes are high but national expectations are higher. Therefore, we must continue to strive and deal decisively with matters in accordance with the rule of law.
“On the part of the government, we shall continue to accord all necessary support to MDAs in order to ensure the sustainability of the initiatives already commenced in actualising our vision of a corrupt free society.”
The President went on: “Let me conclude by saying that the fight against economic and financial crimes in Nigeria is a collective responsibility of all Nigerians if we are to make meaningful progress as a nation.
‘I invite you all to fight corruption in all its ramifications and join us to entrench good governance values and integrity within all our systems. As I have often said, ‘If we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill us as a nation.’”
Speaking shortly after the President was the Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, he reaffirmed the organisation’s effort to fight financial corruption, and appreciated the President’s advise.
“I will lead an agency that will be the pride of our country, Nigeria,” he thanked the President and once again pledged his unalloyed loyalty to the organisation, and Nigeria as well.