The chairman House committee on ICPC, Hon Garba Shehu (Sarkin Noma) said the fight against corruption still need a concerted efforts from critical stakeholders to make it a victory.
According to him corruption has penetrated in the fabric of the country’s economy with all the system suffering from the scourge of the menace that brought down the good image of the nation.
He said a more holistic approach in the war against corruption need to be done as the index of the country is getting Worst, Despite Buhari’s Anti-corruption Stance.
He noted that despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade, the corruption index of the country still ranks among the top in the world.
Shehu, stated this in Yola, the capital of Adamawa state on Thursday, during the commissioning of the state prototype office of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses Commission, ICPC.
He noted with dismay that corruption was still endemic despite efforts by anti-graft agencies to fight corruption, the endemic still subsist across the board in Nigeria.
Shehu said, “corruption must not be condoned,”.
Stressing that corruption has put us in a very low ranking globally as far as transparency and public accountability are concerned.
In his address, the chairman of ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, commended the Buhari regime, saying corruption in public places was on the decline.
He added that ” ICPC the foremost anti-corruption agencies has a three-pronged mandate of enforcement, prevention and the education and mobilization of Nigerians on and against corruption”
Stressing that ” corruption is a great impediment to the socio-economic growth and development of any nation”
The chairman added that the commission has in recent times embarked on several initiatives that focus on combating the menace of corruption, thereby entrenching transparency and accountability in public systems.
” We have also launched the National Ethics and Integrity Policy (NEIP) in collaboration with the NOA and OSGF to address in the decline of National values”
The chairman commended the state government for providing the plot of land, which is the biggest the commission has in the country.
In his remark, governor Ahamdu Umuru Finitiri assured the ICPC of his administration support to the commission in its fight against corruption.
Represented by his deputy, Chief Crowder Seth, the governor urged the commission to assist in training its officials particularly the MDGs.
While the Chairman Senate committee on Anti corruption and Financial crimes, Senator Suleiman Kwari who represented by Adamawa Southern Senator, Senator Binos Dauda Yaroe urged the general public to volunteer information to the anti corruption agencies that will aid in exposing corruption and corrupt practices.
“To make this collaborative between the public and ICPC and other anti corruption agencies more effective,perhaps we need to strengthen our legal framework in the area of whistleblowing and the right to freedom of information.” Binos said