Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has implored Nigerians to embrace transparency and accountability as part of efforts to curb corruption.
Olukoyede spoke at the 12th annual conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) in Effurun, Delta state.
The EFCC boss was represented by Williams Oseghale, assistant commander and head of public affairs at the Benin zonal directorate of the commission.
The conference was sponsored by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), a private pipeline security company engaged by the federal government.
Olukoyede said Nigeria can only attain good governance when citizens play their roles with commitment to accountability and due process.
He added that the country’s socio-economic challenges are rooted in corruption and its effects.
“The onus is on us as individuals to be accountable, transparent and commit to due process and procedures,” he said.
“Every challenge around Nigeria’s socio-economic development today can be traced to the consequences of corruption.
“The rising problems of unemployment, insecurity, poverty, diseases, low life expectancy, hunger, kidnappings and others are the results of mismanagement, misapplication and embezzlement of our resources by those entrusted with them.”
Olukoyede said it is worrisome that Nigeria is regarded as a nation with entrenched corruption and impunity in Africa.
The EFCC boss asked the media to intensify campaigns against corruption and stop presenting corrupt acts in a glamorous light.
“Today, I urge media practitioners to use their various platforms to fight corruption and the twin-evil of economic and financial crimes in our country,” he said.
“The current media practitioners should emulate the founding fathers in the industry and frontally fight social injustice in the land.
“Media practitioners should delve into investigative journalism and expose activities of fraudsters who defraud innocent citizens of their hard-earned monies and those in authority who use their positions to siphon public funds.”
The EFCC chair restated the agency’s commitment to tackling corruption and economic crimes in Nigeria.
He praised ACSPN for placing issues of governance, corruption, and the media at the centre of its conference, describing the theme as timely and essential to building an egalitarian society.
The EFCC boss asked participants to set a clear agenda for the media in advancing the fight against corruption and promoting national development.
