The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Under the leadership of EFCC Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede has ordered the staff members of the commission to immediately declare their assets in line with civil service regulations and procedures.
Olukoyede gave the directive at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja while addressing senior staff members of the EFCC.
He emphasized that fighting corruption required those at the forefront to be honest.
The EFCC chief assured the commission’s employees that adherence to the rule of law would be a matter of faith and a guiding principle in their work.
“The EFCC is a legal creation.” We must carry out our duties in accordance with the law. This is standard international practice, and we would make it our established standard.
“From Level 17 down, we’re all going to declare our assets.” I did mine, so there’s no reason why anyone else shouldn’t. Even the commission’s secretary did it, and you all may have done it in the past, but there’s a a need for all of us to do it again. We will declare our assets, and we are going to investigate them.
“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 said.
While urging the operatives to be professional, he also urged the commission’s staff to pay special attention to the foundation of combating economic and financial crimes, emphasizing that such efforts should be geared toward growing the nation’s economy, creating a conducive environment for increased investment, and strengthening the productive base of the economy.
“We must do our job to add value to the nation,” Olukoyede added. Investors must have faith in the economy, and we must assist the country in becoming more accountable and transparent. This will provide us with a new direction for rehabilitating the nation’s image.
“Please, I beg you, let our hands be clean and put our house in order. Some may not like me, but I am going to do the right thing and treat everybody equally irrespective of religion, ethnicity and region”.
He promised the employees a better benefits package, improved training, and equal opportunities to ensure higher productivity. He implored “those compromising their works and position to desist from such conduct, as dire consequences await every unsavoury tendency” .
