According to a report by PUNCH, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has cautioned local government chairmen across the country to be accountable and transparent in handling public funds. He noted that local government officials do not have immunity from investigation or prosecution and warned that the EFCC would not wait until their tenure ends before probing financial misconduct.
Olukoyede made these remarks during the Gombe State Local Government Summit, as stated in a statement released on Wednesday by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.
At the summit, the EFCC chairman urged local government leaders to manage the funds allocated to them responsibly, stressing that the commission would closely monitor their activities. He stated, “Local government chairmen do not have immunity, and we are not going to wait until you finish your tenure to come after you.”
Olukoyede expressed concern over the poor state of rural communities despite the substantial funds allocated to them over the years. He noted that instead of driving development, many local governments exist only in name, failing to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the people they serve.
To address this issue, he recommended that local government chairmen establish compliance units to track resource allocation and project execution. According to the statement, Olukoyede also revealed that the EFCC had set up a Fraud Risk Assessment and Control (FRAC) Department, which would deploy officers to monitor how local governments in Gombe State utilize funds from the Federation Account.
He warned that the EFCC would conduct regular checks to ensure funds are being used appropriately. “The EFCC will be paying you visits occasionally to check how you are using the funds. We will come in the evening. Sometimes, you may even see us in your dreams,” he said.
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