By MUHAMMED DANBABA
Olukoyede Vows Real-Time Monitoring of Council Funds
Gombe, Nigeria – The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has issued a stern warning to local government chairmen across Nigeria, emphasizing that they do not have immunity from investigation or prosecution for financial misconduct.
Olukoyede stated that the anti-graft agency would not wait until the end of any chairman’s tenure before launching a probe, signaling a more aggressive approach to tackling corruption at the grassroots level.
The EFCC chairman made these remarks during the Gombe State Local Government Summit, according to a statement released on Wednesday by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.
‘We Will Monitor Funds in Real Time’ – EFCC Boss
Addressing local council leaders, Olukoyede criticized the widespread poverty and stagnation in rural areas, despite the substantial funds allocated to local governments over the years.
“Local government chairmen do not have immunity, and we are not going to wait until you finish your tenure to come after you,” he warned.
He lamented that many local councils exist “only in name”, with little impact on community development.
EFCC to Deploy Fraud Risk Assessment Teams
To enhance transparency and accountability, Olukoyede advised local government chairmen to establish a compliance unit to monitor resource allocation and project execution.
He also announced that the EFCC has created a Fraud Risk Assessment and Control (FRAC) Department, which will conduct financial oversight visits to councils in Gombe State to ensure funds are properly utilized.
“The EFCC will be paying you visits occasionally to check how you are using the funds,” he warned.
“We will come in the evening. Sometimes, you may even see us in your dreams.”
ICPC Chairman Highlights Lack of Transparency
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu, revealed a shocking lack of accountability among local governments.
“Out of Nigeria’s 774 local government councils, only seven have websites, making it difficult to track their financial activities,” he said.
Gombe Governor Backs Financial Autonomy for Councils
In his opening remarks, Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya emphasized the importance of local government autonomy, stating that his administration had already granted financial independence to the state’s 11 local councils ahead of the recent Supreme Court ruling.
“For autonomy to be beneficial, councils must have the capacity and discipline to utilize their resources for the good of the people,” Yahaya said.
Hashtags for Wider Reach
#EFCC, #Nigeria, #Corruption, #LocalGovernment, #Transparency, #AntiCorruption, #Governance, #ICPC, #PublicFunds, #Accountability, #FinancialCrime,
