VICE President Yemi Osinbajo has called for the intensification of the war against corruption in the country.
Speaking while receiving the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) led by its Chairman, Prof Itse Sagay, in his office in Abuja on Tuesday, he also called on anti-corruption agencies to step up their engagement with the Nigerian public.
He said this was necessary to discourage them from tolerating people accused of corruption just because they are their kinsmen.
“How we communicate what is going on regarding corruption is important. There are still those who think a politician who steals, is some kind of ‘Robin Hood’, instead of being vilified,” Osinbajo noted.
According to him, “some people believe that if ‘my kinsman’ steals it is ok,” stressing that it is important to completely delegitimise corruption especially through the way it is communicated.
The Vice President commended PACAC for work done so far, noting that the committee had removed skepticism as to whether an anti-corruption initiative can work well in the country.
He advised that efforts should be made to ensure that corruption trials once commenced should be concluded promptly.
In his remark, Prof Sagay said PACAC has engaged with all anti-corruption agencies in the country, including the police and the judiciary, saying: “We are cooperating effectively well with them.”
He called for a harmonised National Anti-Corruption Strategy for the Federal Government.
Sagay was accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the Committee, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, and members including Hadiza Bala-Usman, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
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