The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede has called on youths across the country to join hands with the commission in the fight against corruption.
The Chairman made the call in his remarks during a town hall meeting in commemoration of the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day in Sokoto.
Represented by the Zonal Director of the commission, Nnwanneka Nwokike, the chairman said, corruption affects every age group but bites harder against the prospects and possibilities of youths.
“This makes it more binding on young people to tackle it more fiercely than any other age group.
“The scourge of graft limits and vitiates the opportunities of youths for self-actualisation. Every young person needs an equal opportunity for self-expression, but this is impossible in societies where favouritism, nepotism, partisan and other extraneous considerations tilt opportunities in favour of some privileged people,” the EFCC boss said.
He further explained that corruption makes youths vulnerable to fraudulent practices, with allure of easy money drawing young people into vortex of criminality.
Olukoyede however suggested route that can be taken by youths to achieve unity in the fight against corruption which includes deliberate synergy against graft as well as lending their forces and voices in support of activities of anti-corruption agencies.
Others include exposing tendencies and actions that run counter to accountability and right values in their neighbourhood as well as making a decision against corruption.
He assured whistle blower of adequate protection of their identities while revealing that the zonal office has opened a complaint box where members of the public can drop their complaint in form of petition to the commission.
In his remarks, the chairman of the Civil Society Organisations in the state, Comrade Bello Shehu, commended the agency for always collaborating with CSOs in the state.
He said the establishment of the zonal office has helped in many ways in sanitising many sectors in the state against corrupt practices.
While assuring that CSOs in the state are ready to work in synergy with the agency to fight corruption, he called on the zonal director to organise orientation programmes with the CSOs, especially as it relates with the recent autonomy granted to the local government across the states.
