———–PAACA advocates collaboration to stem corruption
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City.
The Edo State Anti-corruption Network has advocated stiff penalty for corrupt individuals and organizations to stem the menace in the country through the
SAY NO CAMPAIGN project of Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa.
The Say No Campaign Project Manager, Mr. James Ugochukwu stated this at a courtesy visit to Anti-corruption agencies in the state.
Mr. Ugochukwu who noted that corruption was a bane to societal development, stressed the need to pay more attention to fighting corruption to better the lives of citizens in the country.
He called for synergy with the anti-corruption agencies to ensure that corruption was reduced and discouraged those having it in mind to engaged in actions that advance corruption.
According to Mr. Ugochukwu, “we are not here to fight government or anyone but use the instrumentality of government laws, through the Constitution and extant laws to put an end to corruption”.
“The people that are most affected are the citizens and they need to take lead in fight against corruption being the one wearing the shoe”. He stated.
Edo State commissioner of Independence Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, ICPC, Mr. Yusuf Olatunji represented by the assistant commissioner, Mr. Eze Nwafor said ICPC as an anti-corruption agency will collaborate to with Edo State Anti-corruption Network to check the menace in the state.
Mr. Nwafor explained that ICPC usually receive petitions from members of the public and swing into operation as quickly as they can.
According to him, “if we receive petition, we assign it to our investigators, they will investigate it to the core and if there is any merit, the ICPC will now dispute the suspect”.
He urged members of the public to bring in petitions to the commission, assuring them that there identity will be kept discreet if they want it so.
The network also paid a courtesy visit to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Edo State to register their readiness to join the commission in fighting corruption.
In her opening remarks, the coordinator of Edo State Anti-corruptionNetwork, Mrs. Annie Umoru said the network works to promote and strengthen citizens engagement, government and institutions by holding them accountable to the people of the country.
The Zonal Commander of EFCC, Mrs. Nkechi Ude said the commission is about fighting corruption in country and the door of the commission is opened for collaboration.
She stressed on the need for CSOs to register for Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML)and the commission would organise an online interactive section for CSOs SCUML enlightenment.
The State Director of of National Orientation Agency, Mrs. Grace Eseka said the agency would join the network to stem corruption through rigorous campaign against corruption and thorough sensitization on the need to avoid corruption like a plaque to better the society.
Mrs. Eseka also said it a right step in the right direction with the rise of anticorruption networks across the country working tirelessly via collaborations and sentisitization to ensure that the spread of corruption is reduced.
The Edo state anticorruption network visited project sites within WARD 2 in Oredo LGA with the intention of ensuring that the Primary Health Centres are RENOVATED, UPGRADED AND EQUIPPED as contained in the budget. End.