Nigeria’s Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has blamed Public Servants rather than politicians for endemic corruption in the nation’s bureaucracy.
Chair of the ICPC, Bolaji Owasanoye said crimes such as budget padding and project duplication, resulting in the spare resources being misappropriated, were some of the ways corruption proliferated.
Professor Bolaji (pictured) called on community leaders to enthrone integrity, transparency and accountability in their communities to end corruption, stressing all hands must be on deck to fight the problem.
“Corruption is at the root of every problem facing the country, from insecurity to poor infrastructural development, Professor Bolaji said.
“The biggest cases of corruption are perpetrated by Civil Servants in active service and not politicians as erroneously believed.”
He called on community and religious leaders to keep track of Government projects and the funds appropriated for such projects for transparency and accountability.
“I also want them to use their influence to bring about the desired behavioural change and promote the national ethics and integrity policy,” the Chair said.
Professor Bolaji urged whistle-blowers within the Public Service to call out colleagues engaged in corrupt practices “to arrest the situation before it leads to further decay”.
The Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner (RAAC) of Imo State, Peter Alumbugu, supported Professor Bolaji, urging community and religious leaders to rid their communities of corrupt practices through behavioural change strategies.
Abuja, 24 September 2022
