The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde has charged the office of the Head of Service to put in place an internal mechanism to check the rising incidences of economic and financial crimes committed by civil servants.

Lamorde, who cited the involvement of civil servants in the ongoing pension fraud investigations and prosecution by the EFCC, gave the charge on Friday April 12, 2013 while receiving the newly-appointed Head of Service of the Federation Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, OON, who paid a courtesy call on him in Abuja.

The EFCC Chairman charged the Head of Service to seriously tackle issues of civil servants' welfare: "You should look inward and focus on issues of welfare that may be the cause for the incessant corrupt acts. Even though this is not an excuse before the law, we should be able to ask ourselves why for example most properties in the Federal Capital Territory are found to be owned by civil servants through proxies." Lamorde stated.

Earlier, the Head of Service had called on the Commission to assist in the bid to fight corruption and indiscipline in the Service.

Aji said his visit to the EFCC was in line with President Jonathan's charge to him, to infuse discipline and tackle corruption in the Service, a task he said needed the cooperation and assistance of the EFCC to achieve. The Head of Service told the EFCC Chairman that he had strengthened and enhanced the autonomy of the anti corruption units in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies and called on the Commission to lend its expertise to help stamp out corruption and other vices in the Nigerian civil service.
Responding, Lamorde promised that the EFCC would support all the efforts of the Head of Service to reposition the Service.

On the delegation of the Head of Service, was the Permanent Secretary, Special Services, Engr. Esther Gonda, Permanent Secretary, Management Services and Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Dr. Ezekiel Oyemomi. Others included the Permanent Secretary, Career Management, Dr. James Obiegbu and Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Records Office, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Edun, among others.

Media & Publicity Unit

April 12, 2013