RismadarVoice Reporters
July 30, 2026
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has warned public officials against engaging in corrupt practices, stressing that public office is a call to serve rather than an opportunity for personal enrichment.
Olukoyede gave the warning on Thursday in Abuja while delivering a lecture at a two-day induction programme organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms for the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and members of the Governing Board of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC).
Speaking on the theme, “The Role of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Improving Accountability in the Public Service,” the EFCC Chairman said accountability demands that public resources be managed ethically, efficiently and in the best interest of Nigerians.
He lamented that corruption continues to undermine prudent management of public funds, noting that billions of naira meant for infrastructure and essential social services are lost annually through fraudulent practices.
Olukoyede identified treasury looting, diversion of public funds, bribery, kickbacks, procurement and contract fraud, payroll and pension fraud, as well as duty tour allowance fraud, as some of the most common forms of corruption in the public service.
He described contract fraud as the most prevalent form of corruption, alleging that some public officials manipulate procurement processes to enrich themselves through contract splitting, bid rigging, awards to unqualified firms and payments for poorly executed or abandoned projects.
The anti-graft chief recalled that the EFCC was established in 2003 to combat economic and financial crimes through investigation, prosecution, asset recovery and public enlightenment, but acknowledged that the Commission still faces challenges, including inadequate manpower, limited resources, delays in prosecuting high-profile cases and insufficient public support.
Addressing the newly appointed SSDC officials, Olukoyede urged them to resist pressure to exploit their offices for personal gain.
He advised them to familiarise themselves with the Financial Regulations, Public Service Rules and the Public Procurement Act, warning against operating foreign bank accounts, conducting government-related transactions outside recognised financial institutions or seeking contracts from agencies they oversee, either directly or through proxies.
Olukoyede also urged the officials to maintain accurate financial records and exercise caution before endorsing official documents, reminding them that every signature carries legal and ethical responsibility.
