By Press Unit

Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 reminded the corrupt that though the wheel of justice grinds slowly, justice would definitely be served.

According to him, “There is no time bar or statute of limitation against a crime. A man who steals this year can be arrested in 10 years’ time for his crimes. So when you steal, you cannot sleep with both eyes closed because every knock at the door will get you worried.”

He made the remarks at the public presentation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Integrity and Zero Tolerance Clubs manual, which took place at the assembly hall of the Model Secondary School, Maitama, Abuja,

The Vice president who was the special guest of honour, said it was important to recognise that integrity, honesty, trustworthiness were crucial individual and collective attributes for successful people and communities, noting that every corrupt act was not just a crime, but a crime against the society and even children yet unborn.

“Every public officer who steals robs the Nigerian society of funds for health care, education and so on.

“In our integrity clubs, we must become policemen against corruption and wrongdoing

“Whether it is a member of government or a shop assistant or your friend in class who is cheating, they destroy our reputation”, he said.

“I want to say to the young people in Nigeria that you represent the army that will fight corruption not because somebody has pushed you or because it seems like a nice thing to do, no, because your future depends on it.

“The reputation of your country is all at your arm. And those who destroy the reputation of your country are not doing you good, they are doing you great evil. You must ensure that you join the army to fight corruption, to fight dishonesty.” he added.

He commended the EFCC Chairman for the initiative. “The greatest challenge which we face currently is how to safeguard the youth from the ethical crisis and confusion confronting our nation,” he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa said the clubs were designed not only to improve children and youth understanding and sensitivity to the issue of economic and financial crimes, but also promote integrity, honesty, transparency and accountability.

“The manuals which are being unveiled today are viable templates that will ensure that our children and youth are exposed to impactful and life transforming values in an organised and sustainable manner.

“They will serve as a guide to all actors that have roles to play in molding the characters of this young population in various schools and also offer the Commission a framework for quality assurance and control”, he said.

“We believe that the EFCC Integrity Club and Zero Tolerance Club adds a welcome variety to the learning experience of our children and youth with long-term potential as a catalyst for the fight against economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.

“They present an exciting potential to arrest the drift of young people to criminality by fortifying their moral fibre at the cradle of character formation,” he added.

Bawa commended the Federal Capital Territory Universal Education Board for embracing the initiative and urged States Education Boards, Vice Chancellor, Rectors, and Provost of Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of education across the country to key into the Zero Tolerance Club initiative and mobilize their students to embrace the fight against economic and financial crimes.

The event was attended by stakeholders from the anti-corruption and educational sectors. In their good will messages they all commended the vision of the EFCC in addressing the issue of value orientation among school children and the youth.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Anti-corruption, Honourable Nicholas Garba assured the EFCC that the House of Representatives will partner with the Commission in areas of legislation and provision of funding to help it achieve its mandates.

“Against this, we want to assure the EFCC that the House of Representatives is ready to partner with you both in the area of legislation and of course in the area of adequate funding to ensure that you are able to carry out your mandate.” he said.

Representative of the Minister of Education, Adegboye AdeGbola said the manuals would serve as a resource guide for anti-corruption in all institutions in Nigeria.

“The Manual will serve as a resource guide for anti-corruption in all our primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

“It will also form part of the Commission’s initiative and effort to standardize the programme of orientation of children and youth in all tiers of our educational system in line with the strategic plan of the EFCC.”

On his part, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC, Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed said:

“The lunch of the manual will set the tone for effective advocacy in mobilizing the youth especially students in universities to embrace the onerous fight against economic and financial crimes.

“It is heart-warming that this is undertaken by the youthful and highly effective, efficient and competent chairman of this Commission, Mallam Abdulrasheed Bawa.

@views exclusive rights: Press Unit, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, November 30, 2022.