‘Public Service Is Not An Invitation To Loot’

‘Public Service Is Not An Invitation To Loot’ – EFCC Chairman Warns Officials
He urged SSDC officials to prioritise accountability, integrity and responsible governance.
Olukoyede identified contract fraud as a major corruption threat in government.

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has warned public officials against engaging in fraudulent practices, stressing that public office is a responsibility to protect public resources and not an opportunity for personal enrichment.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Olukoyede gave the warning on Thursday in Abuja while delivering a lecture at a two day induction programme organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) for the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and members of the Governing Board of the South South Development Commission (SSDC).

Speaking on the theme, “The Role of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Improving Accountability in the Public Service,” the EFCC chairman said accountability required public resources to be managed ethically, efficiently and in the interest of citizens.

Olukoyede lamented that corruption continued to undermine the effective management of government resources, with billions of naira allegedly lost annually through fraudulent practices in the public sector.

“Annual losses to corruption in Nigeria’s Public Service run into billions of naira as resources for the provision of physical infrastructure and social services are often converted to private use by public servants,” he said.

He identified diversion of public funds, bribery, kickbacks, contract fraud, payroll and pension fraud, duty tour allowance fraud and outright theft from the treasury as common forms of corruption in the public service.

The EFCC chairman described procurement and contract fraud as the most prevalent form of corruption in government institutions.

“From my experience in regulatory compliance, by far the most common form of corruption within the public service space is contract fraud, where those who lead government establishments set out to enrich themselves by rigging the procurement process,” he said.

According to him, such practices often involve contract splitting to avoid approval thresholds, manipulation of bids, awarding contracts to unqualified contractors and making payments for poorly executed or abandoned projects.

Addressing the newly inaugurated SSDC officials, Olukoyede urged them not to view their appointments as an opportunity to enrich themselves.

“I imagine that you all have been receiving tons of congratulatory messages on your appointment, and those close to you would have reminded you that this is an opportunity to grab a slice of the proverbial national cake. Please, tread with caution. Public service is not an invitation to loot the treasury,” he said.

He advised the officials to familiarise themselves with the Financial Regulations, Public Service Rules and the Public Procurement Act to ensure compliance with relevant laws.

Olukoyede also identified limited resources, inadequate manpower, poor public support, delays in prosecuting high profile corruption cases and allegations of selective prosecution as challenges confronting the anti corruption campaign.

He warned the officials against operating foreign bank accounts, engaging in businesses that conflict with their official duties, seeking contracts from their institutions through proxies or conducting financial transactions outside recognised financial institutions.

‘Public Service Is Not An Invitation To Loot’ - EFCC Chairman Warns Officials — ‘Public Service Is Not An Invitation To Loot’ – EFCC Chairman Warns Officials

“As a member of the SSDC, familiarise yourself with the Procurement Act and be guided. You should not be jostling for contracts from the SSDC either directly or through fronts,” he said.

The EFCC chairman also urged the officials to maintain proper financial records and carefully scrutinise documents before signing them.

“Before you sign that document, study it. Your signature is your name and integrity. Guard it,” Olukoyede added.