The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has taken a significant step toward promoting accountability and internal integrity within the organization. He has directed all EFCC staff to promptly declare their assets in adherence to civil service regulations and procedures.
Mr. Olukoyede issued this directive on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, during a meeting with senior EFCC staff at the Commission’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja. He emphasized that the fight against corruption necessitates that those at the forefront of this battle maintain the highest standards of integrity.
Mr. Olukoyede stated, “All of us are going to declare our assets; from level 17, downward. I did mine, so there’s no reason for anyone to be afraid to do the same. Even the Commission Secretary did it, and you all may have done it in the past, but there’s a need for all of us to do it again. We will declare our assets, and we are going to investigate it. We must live above board by setting the pace with good examples. As anti-corruption fighters, our hands must be clean, so we must declare our assets.”
He urged EFCC staff to focus more on the core objectives of combating economic and financial crimes, emphasizing that their efforts should contribute to the nation’s economic growth, create a conducive environment for increased investment, and strengthen the nation’s economic foundation. “We must do our job to add value to the nation. Investors must have confidence in the economy, and we must help the country to be governed in an accountable and transparent manner. By doing this, it will offer us a new direction to redeem the image of the nation,” he stated.
Mr. Olukoyede also called for professionalism, thoroughness, integrity, and non-partisanship among EFCC staff. He stressed the importance of maintaining cleanliness and orderliness within the organization. He promised improved welfare packages, enhanced training, and equal opportunities to enhance staff productivity. He warned against compromising work ethics and positions, emphasizing that unsavory behavior would lead to severe consequences.
The EFCC Chairman assured the staff that adherence to the rule of law would be a fundamental and defining principle of their work. “The EFCC is a creation of the law. We must do our job in line with the dictates of the law. This is a standard international practice, and we will ensure that it becomes our established norm,” he concluded.