The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has urged local government chairmen nationwide to exercise caution and maintain transparency in managing public fund.
Olukoyede emphasized that they are not immune to investigation or prosecution for financial misconduct and that the EFCC will not wait until the end of their tenure to initiate probes.
The statement, issued by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, highlighted Olukoyede’s remarks at the Gombe State Local Government Summit.
Olukoyede called on the chairmen to handle the considerable resources at their disposal with care, underscoring that local government officials do not have immunity from EFCC scrutiny. “We will not wait for your tenure to end before we begin investigating you,” he warned.
He expressed concern over the widespread poverty and underdevelopment in rural areas, despite the significant funds allocated to local governments over the years.
Olukoyede criticized councils for failing to utilize resources effectively, stating that instead of fostering growth, they have become ineffective bodies that exist only in name.
To improve accountability and resource management, Olukoyede advised the chairmen to set up compliance units within their councils to oversee the allocation and implementation of projects.
He also noted that the EFCC has established a Fraud Risk Assessment and Control (FRAC) Department, whose officers will visit local government councils in Gombe State to monitor the proper use of federal allocations.
The EFCC Chairman further warned that the Commission would carry out regular checks on local government funds. “We will make surprise visits to monitor how funds are being used. Sometimes, you may even see us in your dreams,” he joked.
Musa Aliyu, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), lamented that only seven out of the 774 local government councils in Nigeria have functional websites, making it difficult to track their financial activities.
In his opening remarks, Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya emphasized that the summit aimed to strengthen local government operations and ensure that the new autonomy granted to councils serves the public interest. He added that Gombe had already granted financial autonomy to its 11 local councils before the Supreme Court ruling, ensuring they were prepared for the change.
