The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye SAN, OFR has stated that the current board of the Commission has improved on activities that strengthen government desire to eradicate corruption in revenue and expenditure sides of governance.
He stated this at the 2022 United Nations International Anti-Corruption Day held at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre recently.
ICPC Boss, who was represented by Alhaji Goni Ali Gujba, a Board member of the Commission added that through many of ICPC’s activities that include blocking of revenue leakages, the government have been able to take development closer to the people by reducing poverty and implementing sustainable development goals and ensuring value for money in the implementation of publicly funded projects.
He noted that the Commission has improved in its escalation of asset recovery and asset return thereby reducing retail corruption as the everyday experience of ordinary people.
“We at ICPC, will ensure we are going to monitor budget, seek approvals and releases in order to minimise leakages. Our next move will also be about prevention. We are going to enlighten the society through the traditional rulers, religious leaders and the NGOs so that Nigerians would be aware of the dangers of corruption,” he promised.
Earlier in his remarks, the Country Representative of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Dr. Oliver Stolpe emphasised the need for every stakeholder to play their parts in the fight against corruption as many countries were losing billions of dollars and countless opportunities due to corruption.
While speaking on the efforts of UNODC in the fight against corruption, Dr. Stolpe said the body, this year alone, established its first anti-corruption regional hubs in Africa and the Latin America to assist and offer its expertise closer to the point of delivery.
He continued, “we have enhanced our cross-border cooperation through the Globe Network with membership of 127 entities from 69 countries and we have teamed up with the World Bank to bolster asset recovery efforts around the globe”.
He promised that the UNODC will in the coming year renew its partnership with the Nigerian government in the area of anti-corruption with several new projects.
On his part, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN reiterated the need for stakeholders at all levels of government to continue to take necessary steps to promote and strengthen measures to combat corruption more effectively.
He announced that the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2017-2021) has now been extended by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) which will give room for inclusive participation of all relevant stakeholders, particularly at the levels as well as the constitution and inauguration of the inter-ministerial committee with the overall mandate of achieving the set goals of the strategy.
The event also witnessed a drama presentation by NYSC drama group and a debate between students of some selected senior secondary schools in Abuja.