The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has cautioned local government chairmen across Nigeria to uphold transparency and accountability, emphasising that they are not exempt from investigation or prosecution for corruption.
Olukoyede made this statement at the Gombe State Local Government Summit, stressing that the EFCC would not wait until the end of any local government chairman’s tenure before initiating a probe if financial misconduct is suspected.
The EFCC chairman’s remarks were contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the agency’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale. He emphasised that local government funds must be used for public welfare, warning that mismanagement and embezzlement would be met with strict legal action.
Read also: EFCC’s failure: Olukoyede is shadow-boxing with blame-shifting
“The EFCC is committed to ensuring that public funds serve their intended purpose. Local government chairmen must understand that they are accountable and will be held responsible for any financial infractions,” Olukoyede said.
His statement comes amid growing concerns over financial mismanagement at the local government level, with allegations of misappropriation and lack of development projects in many areas.
The anti-graft agency has recently intensified its focus on local government administrations, seeking to curb the misuse of public resources and reinforce accountability at all levels of governance.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
