The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has charged members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), to adopt innovative strategies in the current drive towards tackling corruption and improve governance at the local government level.
The Executive Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, gave the charge at a two-day national workshop and official flag-off of Anti-Corruption Preventive Tools titled ‘War Against Corruption at Grassroots’ which held on Tuesday at the EFCC Academy in Abuja.
Olukoyede, who was represented at the event by the Commission Secretary, Mohammed Hammajoda, charged participants to leverage on their collective wisdom, experiences and insights to forge strategies and initiatives to strengthen the fight against corruption through transparency and accountability in local government administration
He said: “As we delve into the discussions over the next few days, let us leverage on the collective wisdom, experiences, and insights of our distinguished guests and participants.
“Together, we can forge strategies and initiatives that will not only strengthen the fight against corruption but also enhance transparency and accountability in our local governance structures”, the EFCC chairman added.
In addition, he charged the ALGON chiefs to evolve ways of holistically improving governance at the grassroots, stressing that only determined efforts against corruption will sanitize the abuses in public governance and restore hope to millions of Nigerians going through hardships in the country.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman Board of Trustees of ALGON, Odunayo Ategbero, pointed out that prevention of corruption was better than cure, stressing that a bottom-top approach in tackling corruption will help in achieving sustainable development in the country.
He maintained that it remained at the level of the third tier of government that corruption can be effectively prevented.
The ALGON chief clarified: “The fight against corruption and other societal ills bedeviling our country is the collective responsibility of everyone in our society. Therefore, a forum like this is needed to create awareness for all and sundry to tackle corruption headlong.”
He, therefore, urged the EFCC to enforce the fight against corruption at all levels of governance in Nigeria.
Similarly, the Minister for Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Zaphaniah Bitrus Jisalo, commended the EFCC and ALGON for organizing the workshop to discuss, exchange ideas and agree on the implementation of resolutions reached at the event
The two-day workshop was orgnized for local government chairmen, coordinators of development area centers, local government secretaries, heads of personnel management, treasurers, local government auditors, council speakers and other workers.
The aim is to enable them leverage on their mobilization and sensitization for accountable and prudent management of resources at the local government level nationwide.
