The Initiative for Leadership and Economic Watch in Nigeria has pledged its commitment to work alongside the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in monitoring the country’s budget to ensure better implementation and performance.
The partnership was announced on Thursday, February 6, 2025, during a courtesy visit by Splendor Agbonkpolor (Ambassador) and other leaders of various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to the EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja.
The CSOs, who have come together as a collective committee focused on budget monitoring, emphasized the need to oversee the full implementation of the national budget, track its effectiveness, identify gaps, and push for reforms that will promote transparency.
“We believe that corruption starts with procurement, and by tackling it from this point through to implementation, we can minimize the amount of money stolen from the budget,” Agbonkpolor said.
He added that the CSOs’ mandate is to ensure better monitoring of government projects and report on discrepancies where funds have been misused.
We often find that contractors receive large sums for projects but when we visit the sites, no work has been done. In such cases, we approach the EFCC with evidence to help facilitate investigations,” he noted.
Agbonkpolor stressed that the CSOs aim to assist the EFCC in its fight against corruption by providing independent support and offering evidence-based reports that will enhance the agency’s efforts.
The committee intends to collaborate closely with stakeholders, advocate for reforms, and contribute to building the capacity of relevant institutions. Ola Olukoyede, EFCC Executive Chairman, welcomed the partnership, acknowledging the critical role civil society organizations play in the fight against corruption.
“Fighting corruption is not just the responsibility of law enforcement agencies; it’s a shared effort that requires everyone’s participation. We can only succeed with your support, and I’m confident that this collaboration will help Nigeria move forward”, Olukoyede said. He further emphasized the importance of monitoring budget implementation and assured the CSOs of the EFCC’s full support.
“We are all victims of this crime we are addressing. We are committed to ensuring that this partnership remains strong to foster transparency and accountability,” he added.
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