The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated a request for the Presidency, the Federal Judicial Commission, and other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to submit their anti-corruption strategies.
This move is part of the agency’s determined efforts to curb the abuse of contracts.
All MDAs have been given a deadline of March 1 to submit their respective strategies to the anti-graft agency. The directive was communicated through separate letters addressed to the Chief of Staff of the President, the Permanent Secretary of the State House at Aso Rock Villa, the Chairman of the National Assembly Commission, and the Secretary of the Federal Judicial Service Commission.
The EFCC emphasized that this directive is aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to combat corruption within MDAs. In January, the President launched the Fraud Risk Assessment Prevention and Control Project for MDAs, further highlighting the importance of addressing corruption.
The purpose of this project is to evaluate the existing anti-corruption measures in MDAs, with a specific focus on identifying gaps and vulnerabilities. The goal is to develop effective strategies and techniques to mitigate corruption and other financial crimes prevalent in MDAs.
In the letters sent to the aforementioned institutions, the EFCC requested a detailed anti-corruption policy or strategy implemented by each office to prevent abuse in contract and procurement processes. The commission expects a response to this request by the close of business on Friday, March 1, 2024.
A source within the agency revealed that this directive was hinted at in January, demonstrating the EFCC’s strong determination to prevent corruption. The move is seen as a proactive effort to jumpstart the corruption prevention agenda under the leadership of Ola Olukoyede.
During a public engagement on youth, religion, and the fight against corruption, as well as the launch of the fraud risk assessment for MDAs in Abuja on January 31, 2024, the head of the anti-corruption agency alluded to these upcoming measures. The source emphasized that the EFCC aims to disrupt the status quo and proactively prevent corruption to the greatest extent possible.