By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has counselled
the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members to begin to act as anti-corruption crusaders for the upliftment and good of the country.
The chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who made the call, said that to do this, the youths would need to shun acts of corruption, criminality and militancy.
Bawa’s charge was contained in a keynote address entitled: ‘The EFCC and the Role of the Youths in Curbing Cybercrime,’ delivered on his behalf by the Head, Public Affairs Department of the Ilorin Zonal Command if the agency, Ayodele Babatunde, to the 2022 Batch ‘A’ Stream 1 corps members, at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Yikpata, in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State.
he EFCC boss said that “the Commission believes that the NYSC is a veritable platform to rally the Nigerian youth against corruption.”
Noting that the fight against corruption should not be left to the EFCC alone, Bawa stressed that it was essential to sensitise the youths against corruption, cybercrime, illicit financial flows, illegal oil bunkering, all of which contribute to economic sabotage.
He urged the Nigerian youths to take ownership of the fight against corruption, insisting that the EFCC would remain unyielding in its efforts to fight corruption, money laundering and other forms of economic and financial crimes in the society.
Bawa added, “The Commission would ensure that those who had plundered the resources of the nation or amassed wealth through illegitimate means are brought to justice through the instrumentality of the law.
“I enjoin you to stand up and say no to corruption. Let us take the future of this country in our hands and let us lose no hope in our efforts to bring the country back from the brink.”
The EFCC boss message was said to have also been delivered at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Asaya, Kabba, Kogi State, where he challenged Corps members to support the EFCC in raising the anti-corruption campaigns for a corruption-free country, through uprightness, volunteerism and patriotism.
He had said, “Once we are able to get rid of corruption and criminality, then you can walk the street freely and successfully set the country on the path of sustainable development.”
He observed that, corruption was responsible for the low living standard of many Nigerians and urged youths to team up with the EFCC in the fight against the menace.
Bawa added, “Say no to corruption. Report any act of economic and financial crime within your neighborhood to the EFCC and be assured that you will get quick response from us.”
