Newly appointed Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, assumed office on Thursday, with clear agenda of re-positioning and re-focusing the commission for optimal effectiveness.
EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, who made this known in a press statement, in Abuja, said the EFCC’s boss arrived the corporate headquarters of the commission at 10:45 a m and inspected a guard of honour and immediately went into a meeting with the management staff.
Oyewale noted that the former EFCC acting Chairman, Mr. Abdulkarim Chukkol, delivered the hand over notes to the chairman at the meeting.
He said the agenda revolves around clearer and robust pursuit of the mandate of the EFCC, creating atmosphere for transparency and accountability in governance, emphasizing preventive strategies in fighting corruption, total adherence to the rule of law and better welfare packages for staff of the commission.
“We need to address the focus of our mandate. We should use the Commission to drive economic development. Why are we fighting crimes?
“It is for the system to thrive, for the economy to grow, for the society to get better. Therefore, our focus should be geared towards developing the nation for greater benefits,” Olukoyede said.
On professionalism, the EFCC’s boss said, “We are going to drive professionalism in discharging our duties in line with the rule of law. The rule of law is going to be our guiding light. We are going to drive EFCC to a place that when you see EFCC personnel, you will see a touch of professionalism.
“We are also going to be involved more in prevention, because it is better to save money for the government than to spend money in prosecution.”
He stressed the supremacy of the rule of law in the works of the Commission, pointing out that “the EFCC is a creation of the law. Its Act is a legal instrument. This means that, all our activities should be in line with the rule of law. There is nothing we are going to do that will be at variance with the law.”
He assured of equal opportunities for career progression and more rewarding welfare package.
“My priority is to enhance staff welfare. We will build on what we have done before and there are prospects that we will do better things for every staff of the Commission,” the EFCC boss stated.
Earlier, Chukkol while delivering the handover appreciated management and staff for their support during his time in office.
According to the former acting chairman, “Indeed, I found myself privileged to witness history as it unfolds into the new leadership that takes up the affairs of our great institution.”
He urged Olukoyede “to strive to preserve and strengthen the reform and processes of the past few years that has brought some professional satisfaction to personnel of the Commission.”
