Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde has commended the partnership between the EFCC and the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, in the fight against corruption in Nigeria .
Lamorde made the commendation August 7, 2014 during a sensitization programme organized for management and staff of the NCC in Abuja .
Lamorde who was represented by Osita Nwajah, deputy director, Public Affairs said the programme is designed to foster collaboration with NCC as a key player in the fight against corruption particularly in information and communication sector in Nigeria .
The EFCC boss said that, the partnership will go a long way to show that NCC has zero tolerance for corruption. According to him, “EFCC in keeping with its mandate has embarked on measures to prevent the commission of economic and financial crimes through aggressive public enlightenment and education as it is easier and cheaper to prevent crime than fight it”.
The EFCC boss called on the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Eugene Juwah to accept proposal for the establishment of an NCC Integrity Section to work in conjunction with ACTU (Anti-Corruption Transparency Unit) in the Commission and also consider extending this sensitization campaign to other staff in its zonal offices.
He appreciated the NCC for its assistance and contributions as a board member of the EFCC and also in its capacity as a regulatory agency for telecommunications where it has provided the necessary framework that has assisted EFCC in its work especially in the investigation of telecommunication related offences.
In her presentation, Aisha Larai Musa, Head, Enlightenment and Re-orientation Unit, E&R, noted that EFCC has the mandate to carry out rigorous public enlightenment campaigns to prevent the commission of economic and financial crimes.
Other speakers; Felicia Bot-Timothy, X-rayed NCC and its role in the fight against corruption while Cosmos Ugwu of the Legal Unit of the EFCC also spoke on the need for synergy between EFCC and NCC in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
In his remarks, Dr Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Julius Ugwu said that EFCC and NCC are vested with the primary role of building a modern, enlightened, informed and civic-oriented society. According to him, “both agencies have been outstanding within the period of their existence and can safely be credited as two of the agencies helping to lay the building blocks of a modern Nigeria , enlightened and corruption free”.
He also added that “all over the country it is known that the fear of EFCC is the beginning of wisdom. As voluble as some of our people may be, the only harness that can rein them to order is the mention of EFCC, the acclaimed sanitizer of human foibles and indiscretion in private and public offices”.
