Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the Nigerian Presidency, the Federal Judicial Commission, and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies, to submit their anti-corruption strategies, as part of the agency’s efforts to stop the abuse of contracts.
The Ministries, Departments and Agencies have up to March 1, 2024 to submit their strategies to the anti-graft agency.
EFCC stated that the directive was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to tackle corruption in MDAs, and the launch of the Fraud Risk Assessment Prevention and Control Project for MDAs by the President in January.
The directive was contained in separate letters to the Chief of Staff to the President, the Permanent Secretary, State House, Aso Rock Villa, the Chairman, National Assembly Commission; and the Secretary, Federal Judicial Service Commission.
The letter reads in part: “The aim of the project is to assess extant anti- corruption measures in MDAs with particular focus on identifying gaps, vulnerabilities, develop strategies and techniques to mitigate corruption and other financial crimes prevalent in MDAs.
“You are kindly requested to forward to the commission a detailed anti-corruption policy or strategy deployed by your office to prevent abuse in contract and procurement processes.
“Kindly note that the commission expects your response to this request on or before the close of business on Friday, 1st day of March, 2024.
“The correspondence to the key government institutions is a bold effort to jumpstart the corruption prevention agenda of the Ola Olukoyede-led EFCC.
“The anti-corruption boss had hinted of this move at a Public Engagement on Youth, Religion and the Fight against Corruption and Launch of Fraud Risk Assessment for MDAs it held in Abuja on January 31, 2024. It is no more business as usual. We want to prevent corruption as much as possible,” the source said.