The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has directed the Presidency, the Federal Judicial Commission, and various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to furnish the agency with their anti-corruption strategies to combat contract abuse,Punch reports.
All MDAs are required to submit their strategies to the anti-graft agency by March 1.
This directive was communicated through separate letters addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, the Permanent Secretary of the State House in Aso Rock Villa, the Chairman of the National Assembly Commission, and the Secretary of the Federal Judicial Service Commission.
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The EFCC stated that this directive aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption agenda for MDAs, as demonstrated by the launch of the Fraud Risk Assessment Prevention and Control Project for MDAs in January.
According to the letter, the project aims to evaluate existing anti-corruption measures in MDAs, pinpoint gaps and vulnerabilities, and devise strategies and techniques to mitigate corruption and other financial crimes within MDAs.
MDAs were requested to provide detailed anti-corruption policies or strategies employed to prevent abuse in contract and procurement processes.
The EFCC expects responses to this request by the close of business on March 1, 2024.
A source within the agency indicated that the directive was previously hinted at in January, emphasizing the EFCC’s commitment to proactively prevent corruption.
This move to correspond with key government institutions marks a proactive step in the corruption prevention agenda led by Ola Olukoyede at the EFCC, as previously hinted during a Public Engagement on Youth, Religion, and the Fight against Corruption, along with the Launch of Fraud Risk Assessment for MDAs held in Abuja on January 31, 2024. The agency is determined to change the status quo and minimize corruption occurrences.
