……We’ll synergise with EFCC, ICPC, others —Agency’s Chairman, Akintoroye.
……I won’t tolerate corruption in LG system —Aiyedatiwa.
By: Oluwatosin Adesola
In an effort to combat financial irregularities and promote accountability in the running of local government administration, the Ondo State Public Complaints, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption Commission (SPFACC) and the state Ministry of Local Government & Chieftaincy affairs, on tuesday September 17, 2024 organized a two-day capacity building workshop for council transitional chairmen officials and stakeholders in the 18 local government across the state.
The Chairman of SPFACC, Justice William Akintoroye, said the Ondo State Public Complaints, Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Commission is a Statutory agency of Ondo State that has a clear and unambiguous mandate.
Justice Akintoroye said the workshop of designed to address issues that are germane to corruption as it affects local government system from the perspective of Ondo State Public Complaints, Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Commission.
The Chairman, a former State Chief Judge, who acknowledged that it is on record Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is committed to accountability, probity and transparency in governance, said the capacity building is a major milestone in the collective resolve to confront the menace of corruption and corrupt practices.
While noting that corruption has contributed significantly to the underdeveloped state of the nation, Justice Akintoroye said government at every level, the citizenry, civil society, public and private sectors and multilateral agency must all come together to mitigate the menace of corruption.
The Chairman commended the efforts of Ondo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for taking exceptional lead in the commitment to support the activities of the Commission in every ways possible.
Justice Akintoroye however, maintained that establishing synergy among the agencies will help in the crusade against corruption and said “I want to use this medium to appeal to our sister agencies EFCC, ICPC and Code Of Conducts Bureau.
He called for collaboration among other anti-corruption agencies to address the issue of corruption in the country.
Justice Akintoroye said partnership with other agencies becomes necessary in the fight against corruption, in order to strengthen existing frameworks while also evolving new strategies.
The former Chief Judge noted that corruption has become a cankerworm in the fabric of the society and has spread to affect every strata of the society and said “unless and until we take the bull by the horn to stem the tide of corruption, the society shall continue to suffer because of the underdevelopment consequences.
“Corruption has contributed significantly to our underdevelopment in Nigeria. Aside from the fact that hard-earned resources that should have been used to advance the course of development across social, health, education, infrastructure ends in private pocket due to corrupt practices.
“People are made to suffer the consequences such as failing education system, hospitals without drugs, insecurity, bad roads. Various researches have continued to establish correlation between corruption, corrupt practices and excruciating underdevelopment in our societies.
“Government at every level, the citizenry, civil society, public and private sectors and multilateral agency need a connected effort to mitigate corruption menace so that the society can begin to on the character of true development devoid of corrupt practices,” Justice Akintoroye.
AIYEDATIWA VOWS NOT TO TOLERATE CORRUPTION IN LG SYSTEM
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, while declaring the workshop open, said the workshop was put in place to instilling the virtues of good governance with emphasis on transparency, accountability and zero-tolerance for corrupt practices.
Aiyedatiwa who was represented by the State Commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Amidu Takuro, said the workshop is expected to orientate and enlighten the Local Government officials and other stakeholders on anti-corruption.
He said this will afford all the local government across the state to continue to imbibe the virtues of accountability, probity, transparency and good governance.
The Governor said “I have a strong conviction that this posture is unique among states across Nigeria. Of recent, the local government has been put under serious experiment.
“We are happy to support this program as a way of keeping in shape, understand more in-depth the tenets of accountability, transparency, probity and zero tolerance for corruption and corrupt practices.
“If the local governments are able to institutionalize the act of doing the right thing, there would not be any cause to worry about anything in the future.
“I have a strong believe that this workshop would focus on unearthing the dynamics corruption in local governments and teach the tools needed to cope with the emerging dynamics and improve accountable governance at the local government in Ondo State,” Aiyedatiwa said.
The workshop which was attended by top local government officials including the Chairman of the Ondo State Local Govt Commission, Chief Femi Idris, will also hold in Okitipupa and Ikare Akoko.
The technical sessions were handled by a Fellow, Anti- Corruption Practitioners Network (ACPN), Dr Olukayode Daniel Adekeye; a Retired Permanent Secretary/ Solicitor- General, Barrister Cyril Akinrinsola; a Certified Risk Assessor, Prof Adeyeye Adewole as well as, a Board member, Ondo state Public Complaints, Financial Crime & Anti- Corruption Commission, Mrs Funmi Osundolire.
