By Aja Chukwumerijie, Enugu
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye says the law and order approach to the fight against corruption alone is not enough to tackle the menace in Nigeria.
He said; “It also requires active involvement and engagement of stakeholders for it to be robust and successful.
“Certainly, ordinary citizens are usually at the receiving ends of corruption and since government agencies cannot be everywhere, it follows reason that the people most affected must be engaged in the crusade,” Professor Owasanoye said.
The ICPC believes that it is only through the concerted efforts of all concerned that Nigeria can overcome the scourge called corruption.
Professor Owasanoye said “the Commission is working at ensuring a corrupt-free Nigeria that will assure teeming youths of gainful employment and fulfillment, as well as guarantee a qualitative healthcare system, functional education, and a prosperous economy.”
He was speaking at a one-day sensitization workshop for stakeholders on bringing about behavioural change in society, using the National Ethics and Integrity Policy held in Enugu on Wednesday.
“This training workshop therefore underscores the need for constant communication of these initiatives to the relevant stakeholders to secure their support and to help in disseminating the information and message of behavioral change” Professor Owasanoye noted.
He acknowledged that the Federal Executive Council had in August 2020, approved the National Ethics and Integrity Policy, NEIP as a response to the many damaging effects of corruption on both the public and private sectors, to help restore and vitalize them.
He was represented at the event by the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, ICPC Enugu, and Ebonyi State Office, Mr. Kennedy Ebhotemen.
The NEIP was developed by the ICPC in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF and the National Orientation Agency, NOA to enhance Nigeria’s Core Values in the society.
The workshop was organised by the ICPC through the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria, ACAN, the Commission’s research and training arm as a project that seeks to integrate research conducted by ACAN, with the practical engagement of the Commission’s Public Enlightenment and Education Department and different segments of the society, to bring about positive behavioral change in Nigeria.
