In a significant move to combat Nigeria’s pervasive corruption problem, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, and Ola Olukoyede, Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have issued a powerful call to public officers across the country, urging them to reject corrupt practices and prioritize fiscal responsibility in their governance. This call came during the opening session of a pivotal three-day workshop on “Fiscal Responsibility and Transparency”, organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes in partnership with the EFCC, held in Abuja.
The workshop, attended by over 100 state and local government officials from Jigawa State, was designed to equip them with the essential knowledge and skills necessary to fight corruption within their respective domains. It is part of a wider effort by Nigeria’s government to enhance financial integrity and curb the long-standing issues of corruption, money laundering, and financial mismanagement in the public sector. The collaboration between the House of Representatives, the EFCC, and Barclays Global Consult Nigeria Limited represents a unified front in Nigeria’s continued struggle to eliminate corruption from its public offices, where it has remained an entrenched issue for decades.
The workshop’s goal, according to Hon. Onwusibe, was not only to expose and prosecute corrupt activities but also to introduce preventive measures that would help public officials avoid engaging in illegal financial practices. “Fighting corruption requires more than just legal and institutional frameworks; it also demands a cultural shift towards greater fiscal transparency,” Onwusibe asserted in his speech. He added that public officers must understand their critical roles as stewards of the people’s resources and take responsibility for the decisions that shape the future of Nigeria. “We must stop corrupt practices before they even begin, which is why this workshop emphasizes preventive education for those at the grassroots level,” Onwusibe emphasized.
Corruption, particularly in the public sector, has long been identified as a major impediment to Nigeria’s development. Despite substantial resources allocated yearly to infrastructure, healthcare, education, and other essential services, mismanagement and diversion of funds have perpetuated the country’s economic instability. Hon. Onwusibe pointed out that 70 percent of Nigeria’s fiscal challenges could be attributed to poor fiscal transparency, which has contributed to widespread poverty despite the country’s rich natural resources and human capital. “Every year, trillions of Naira are allocated to meet critical infrastructural needs, yet these funds often disappear due to fraudulent practices in the procurement processes,” Onwusibe stated. This, he emphasized, has directly contributed to the crippling effect of corruption on Nigeria’s economy, public services, and overall governance.
Onwusibe also urged state governments to adopt and enforce statutory laws aimed at combating financial crimes. He called on state and local government officials to make a concerted effort to educate their staff, citizens, and stakeholders on the importance of ethical conduct and the dangers of corruption. It is vital, he argued, that a collective commitment to curbing corruption be established across all levels of government, from the federal to the local. “We cannot continue to ignore the reality that corruption is the primary barrier to the success of any government,” Onwusibe said. “The current generation of public servants has a duty to break free from the corrupt legacy of the past and take Nigeria to the heights it deserves.”
The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of ensuring that government officials possess not only the knowledge of financial regulations but also the moral compass to implement them effectively. Olukoyede reminded the workshop participants that accountability is not just about enforcing rules—it’s about creating a culture of integrity within the public sector that will resonate through the entire nation. “We need a well-informed public sector that understands the legal and institutional frameworks designed to promote financial transparency and discourage corruption,” Olukoyede noted. His remarks underscored the necessity of collaboration between government agencies, institutions, and the public, as no single body can effectively combat corruption alone.
In response to Nigeria’s corrupt governance practices, Hajiya Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), represented by Barr. Kingsley Amaku, underscored the importance of financial integrity in governance. According to Bakari, the training program was a timely intervention, especially given the current emphasis on financial accountability and good governance at both the state and federal levels. “We need a comprehensive understanding of the laws that govern financial transactions within the public sector to stop corruption in its tracks,” Bakari said. She emphasized that this initiative was not just about combating corruption through law enforcement, but also about educating public officers on the legal mechanisms designed to foster transparency and uphold accountability.
The CEO of Barclays Global Consult Nigeria Limited, Rt. Honourable Matthew Kolawole, emphasized the role of the workshop in providing practical knowledge for newly elected officials at the state and local government levels, many of whom are unfamiliar with the legal and fiscal frameworks guiding the management of public funds. “A lot of money flows into state and local governments, but many local government officials are not adequately trained on how to handle these funds within the parameters of the law,” Kolawole explained. The workshop was designed to bridge this gap and provide the necessary tools for effective financial management, ensuring that local governments are not prone to financial mismanagement.
The workshop’s significance was also reflected in the expectations of local government leaders. Hon. Abdulraman Lawal, Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Jigawa State, noted that the training would provide critical insights into managing government funds responsibly and avoiding mismanagement. Similarly, Ismail Yusuf, Director of Local Governments in Jigawa State, emphasized the need for continuous capacity building to ensure that local government officials were equipped to carry out their duties with integrity and professionalism.
The success of this workshop represents just one part of Nigeria’s broader efforts to combat corruption and promote fiscal responsibility at every level of government. As the country faces one of its most challenging periods of governance, national development depends on the transformation of Nigeria’s public sector. The fight against corruption is not just a legal issue, but a societal one, and it requires unity, education, and commitment from both public officials and citizens to ensure that Nigeria achieves its potential.
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