EFCC urges Nigerians to monitor budgets, constituency projects to check corruption
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged Nigerians to actively track government budgets and constituency projects to enhance governance in the country.
EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, stated this on Wednesday during a state-wide consultative meeting on transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in constituency projects, held in Kano.
SolaceBase reports that the event was organized by the Resource Center for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), with support from MacArthur Foundation.
Mr. Olukoyede emphasized that the fight against corruption cannot be left to the EFCC alone, urging local communities to get involved by tracking projects and reporting irregularities.
He said, “Fighting corruption is not just the responsibility of the EFCC; local communities must participate by monitoring budgets and constituency projects and reporting any discrepancies to the agency.”
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Mr. Olukoyede expressed gratitude to CHRICED for organizing the forum and highlighted the importance of community-driven anti-corruption strategies.
“A community-driven strategy is crucial because it ensures that those directly affected by public policies are engaged in the oversight process. When communities take ownership of the fight against corruption, the chances of success rise significantly,” he said.
Mr. Olukoyede noted that constituency projects are designed to address the needs of local populations and should involve communities from start to finish.
He explained that the EFCC has taken a proactive approach by establishing a Fraud Risk Assessment and Control Directorate. “Rather than waiting for funds to be stolen, we are expanding our scope to assess and prevent fraud. We’ve launched a new directorate to assess fraud risks and ensure proper control across government ministries, departments, and agencies,” he said.
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He added that, with over 700 federal ministries, departments, and agencies to monitor, the EFCC does not have the capacity to do it alone, making community involvement essential. “We need citizens at the grassroots to monitor projects and report irregularities. Constituency projects are meant to serve the people, and local communities must be vigilant in tracking them,” he said, urging citizens to monitor the projects allocated to their constituencies.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Muhammad Sani Gumel, who chaired the occasion, stressed the need for collective action against corruption. “Corruption is present in almost every corner of this country, and citizens and stakeholders must unite to fight it. Mismanagement of public funds has led to the underdevelopment of our country,” Prof. Gumel said. He called on communities to monitor ongoing projects and report those that have been abandoned.
In a remark, CHRICED Executive Director, Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, highlighted the severe challenges facing Nigeria, including poverty, malnutrition, insecurity, and corruption.
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“Despite Nigeria’s wealth, many citizens continue to live in deprivation, lacking access to basic services like healthcare, education, and clean water,” he said.
Dr. Zikirullahi also criticized the mismanagement of Nigeria’s Zonal Intervention Projects (Constituency Projects), which he said could have transformed grassroots communities but have been plagued by corruption. He emphasized the need for greater transparency, accountability, and active community participation in ensuring that these projects fulfil their intended purpose.
The event concluded with a strong call to action for citizens to engage in tracking public funds, ensuring proper implementation of constituency projects, and holding leaders accountable for their management of public resources.
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