The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it would sensitise Nigerians on ways of tackling corruption to assist the commission in the fight against graft.
The Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde, stated this at the inauguration of the commission’s anti-corruption sensitisation programme organised for the staff of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Lamorde, who was represented by Mr Osita Unwaja, Deputy Director in the commission, said it had become imperative for the commission to take measures to enlighten Nigerians, who often fall prey economic crime.
“Among such measures is aggressive public enlightenment and education because you will agree with me that it is far cheaper to prevent crime than to fight it.
“The programme which we are inaugurating is specially designed for employees of public and private institutions.
“The aim is to take the anti-graft campaign to the workplace to encourage workers to have a buy-in as EFCC alone cannot fight and win the war against corruption in Nigeria”, he said.
He said the commission had also carried such sensitisation programmes to some government agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Police and the National Directorate of Employment, among others.
He commended the efforts of the NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Eugene Juwah, and the management of the commission for agreeing to collaborate with the EFCC in combating corruption.
Juwah, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Jerry Ugwu, said both agencies were vested with the responsibility to build a modern, enlightened, informed and civic-oriented society.
He said part of NCC guidelines was to be fair, firm and forthright in all its transaction, adding that those were the values of integrity the commission stood for.
“These are the values that have helped to transform the telecommunications industry from its dire beginning in 2001 to where it is at moment with over 130 million connected lines.
“Also with investment of over $32 bilion from a paltry sum of $500 million which has shot the GDP within the period from 4.5 per cent to 8.69 per cent.
“This investment profile and the exponential growth no doubt will attract attention to the industry and challenge our moral, professional and ethical commitment to regulatory oversight.
“This is why I want to thank the EFCC for providing this enlightenment platform for workers of the Commission, we are very happy for this interactive opportunity”, Juwah said. (NAN)
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