From Sola Ojo, Abuja
Ola Olukoyede, Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has identified poor compliance with best practices, rules, and regulations in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) as a major driver of corruption in Nigeria.
He made this remark on Tuesday while addressing a delegation from the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), led by its Executive Vice Chairman, Khalil Halilu, at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.
Olukoyede noted that both government agencies and private entities often fail to adhere to established regulations, making them vulnerable to abuses and corruption. “If there’s anything most of our MDAs are lacking, it is compliance,” he said. “There is lack of compliance in contract awards, management processes, and financial regulations. When you don’t comply, it’s a breach, and that opens the door to corruption and financial crimes.”
He commended NASENI’s leadership for developing a Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in collaboration with the EFCC but stressed that their effectiveness depends on staff commitment. “CRA is good, but it will not bring change unless people are ready to follow due process,” Olukoyede said. “I salute your courage for the modest achievements you have made.”
Halilu expressed gratitude for the EFCC’s support, noting that the visit aimed to strengthen the existing partnership. “One of my first actions as Executive Vice Chairman was to invite the EFCC to review our processes and suggest improvements,” he said. He described the CRA and SOP, developed by a joint team of nine EFCC officers and ten NASENI officials since 2022, as a significant achievement.
The SOP, completed in 2024, spans 1,900 pages across 45 booklets. “We are here to thank the EFCC for providing nine of their best officers to evaluate NASENI and guide us on preventing corruption,” Halilu added.