The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned local government chairmen that increased financial resources at the grassroots will come with greater scrutiny, stressing that no public official will be beyond the reach of accountability.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, gave the warning on Tuesday in Abuja at the maiden Annual National Conference of Local Government Council Chairmen and Traditional Rulers Councils.
Olukoyede, who was represented by the Director of Public Affairs Department and Commander of the EFCC, CE Wilson Uwujaren, said the Commission would extend its anti-corruption enforcement to the local government level as more public funds become available to councils.
According to him, the success of increased funding for local governments should not be measured by the amount released to councils but by the impact of those resources on the lives of Nigerians at the grassroots.
“The EFCC is equally committed to transparency and accountability at the sub-national level and would want to see the improved resources flow to the third tier of government translate into improvement in the quality of lives of the grassroots population,” he said.
The EFCC boss urged council chairmen to make accountability a practical principle, particularly in the management of funds meant for primary healthcare, education, rural roads, water supply, food systems and other essential services.
He stressed that the anti-graft agency would investigate allegations of financial crimes professionally and prosecute suspects based on evidence, while respecting the constitutional role of the courts.
“No title should place anyone outside the reach of the law, but neither should the fight against corruption be separated from due process,” Olukoyede said.
The EFCC chairman disclosed that the Commission recovered more than N1.233 trillion between October 2023 and the period covered by its recent stewardship account.
The recoveries, he said, also included $684.48 million, £373,905.78 and €9.34 million.
He added that about two-thirds of the naira recovered had been returned to ministries, departments and agencies, state revenue services, companies and individuals, with federal and state tax recoveries accounting for about N288.1 billion.
Olukoyede said approximately N661.32 billion and $492.37 million had been released to beneficiaries during the period under review.
He maintained that asset recovery should go beyond seizure, stressing that recovered funds and properties should ultimately be put to productive use for the benefit of Nigerians.
The EFCC chairman also disclosed that the Commission’s specialised enforcement portfolio had recorded 920 cases and 212 convictions, while nearly 60 per cent of its processes and operations had been digitalised.
He said the Commission was strengthening its cybercrime response capacity to tackle emerging threats, including terrorist financing, illegal mining, money laundering, cross-border cybercrime and virtual-asset fraud.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented at the event by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, also charged local government leaders to ensure that increased resources translate into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.
Tinubu said Nigeria’s development could not be achieved from the centre alone, stressing the need for development to take root at the grassroots.
He urged local government chairmen to prioritise primary healthcare, basic education, rural roads, safe water, food systems and support for small businesses, women and young people.
