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The theme of the 2023 edition, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, is “Uniting the World Against Corruption.”
In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja in support of the “Nigeria Walk Against Corruption” organised by the EFCC to commemorate this year’s celebration, Oladele noted that fighting corruption without the active involvement of the people and civil society organisations would amount to nothing.
He said corrupt people live with other members of the society but choose to deploy their energy illegitimately for their selfish interests.
He said, “Corruption is a formidable enemy of progress, and in reality, it can be said to have much of its roots in society because virtually nothing moves in our society without one form of corruption or the other, ranging from petty to grand corruption—looting of natural resources like petroleum products, bunkering, etc; judicial corruption; human rights violations; all types of anti-people and retrogressive policies; destruction and looting of public assets and systems such as health, education, and others. Because of corruption, people are compelled to pay for services that should be free.”
He added that the government alone cannot fight corruption unless the people see the key and own the war against graft.
He said, “The EFCC Act Section 6 (p) and (q) also empowers the commission to carry out and sustain rigorous public and enlightenment campaigns against economic and financial crimes within and outside Nigeria and carry out such other activities as are necessary or expedient for the full discharge of all or any of the functions conferred on it under the Act while Section 12 gives the EFCC power to set up any committee as may be necessary to assist the commission in the performance of its duties and functions under the Act.”
Oladele also emphasised that the requirement for people and civil society participation in anti-corruption efforts is supported by UNCAC’s Article 13, which specifically states that “each state party shall take appropriate measures, within its means and in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, to promote the active participation of individuals and groups outside the public sector, such as civil society, non-governmental organisations, and community-based organisations, in the prevention of and the fight against corruption and to raise public awareness regarding the existence and gravity of the threat posed by corruption.
“Also, our national anti-corruption strategy rests on five pillars, namely, prevention of corruption, enforcement and sanctions, public engagement, campaigns for ethical reorientation, and recovery of proceeds of corruption.”
“These provisions become necessary in view of the fact that awareness on the part of the public is important for the works of the EFCC and the ICPC.
“It is also aimed at building public support for anti-corruption war and to ensure that apart from punishing corruption, efforts should be made by the anti-graft institutions to prevent corruption, to educate the civil society on how to resist corruption and manage the risk. People expect their leaders to carry out their duties with a high degree of honesty and accountability,” he added.
