EFCC, Presidential Committee on Social Vices Parley against Graft in Schools

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has expressed the Commission’s readiness to work with the Presidential Committee on Campaign against Social vices in Secondary and Tertiary institutions to tackle economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption among students.

He stated this recently in Abuja when the Chairman, Presidential Special Committee on Campaign against Social vices in Secondary and Tertiary Institutions, Professor Jerry Ugokwe led members of his team to the Commission’s headquarters on a Courtesy visit.

The EFCC Chairman, who spoke through the Director, Fraud Risks Assessment and Control, FRAC, Commander of the EFCC, CE Ibrahim Shazali pointed out that the Commission had zero tolerance for social vices and would spare no expense to ensure that integrity and right conduct are enshrined in schools. “The Campaign against social vices is something that the EFCC started from inception, we have established Integrity Clubs in Primary and Secondary Schools and Zero Tolerance clubs in Institutions of Higher Learning. So, all we are doing is to ensure that students at different levels of education are encouraged to embrace good value systems that will insulate them from corrupt practices” .

He further stated that the Commission was more focused on preventive modalities which include sensitization and re-orientation “because they are easy, cheap and in tandem with the mandate of the Commission. He added that the EFCC was ready to collaborate with all stakeholders to rid Nigeria of corruption, economic and financial crimes.

“Recall that the Executive Chairman Mr. Ola Olukoyede, during his screening at the Senate, categorically mentioned that he would drive preventive frameworks against corruption, explaining it is easier to prevent than to allow corruption to happen”.

“The menace against drug abuse, cybercrime, alcoholism, cultism and other vices in the tertiary institutions and secondary school can trigger anti-social behaviours like corrupt practices. We are very much ready to collaborate with you, we will give you all the support you need. As I said earlier, we already have our existing zero tolerance and integrity clubs so that you can just come and key in so that we can continue and work together”

On his part, Ugokwe stated that the fight against corruption and financial crimes cannot be sustained without building the right values among the younger generation adding that the purpose of the Committee is to “design, coordinate and implement a comprehensive national campaign against social vices in Nigerian secondary schools and tertiary institutions.”

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He stated further that the four pillars of the committee include awareness and sensitization, capacity building and training, policy and advocacy, collaboration and enforcement support.

He called on the EFCC to sustain its efforts in fighting economic and financial crimes, maintaining that “joint campus sensitization programmes, anti-corruption clubs in schools, annual anti-corruption essay competitions, capacity building and media campaigns will consolidate gains in the fight against vices.”