The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) has said it would leverage technology to eliminate corruption from the public service by clamping down on corrupt politicians irrespective of party affiliation.

Chairman of the ICPC, Musa Aliyu, made the pledge, yesterday, in Abuja at the training workshop of leaders of political parties in Nigeria organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) with support from MacArthur Foundation.

Represented by the commission’s Acting Director of Operations, Shehu Yahaya, the ICPC boss urged political leaders to promote core values that will positively impact the practice of anti-corruption social norms across the country.

While describing the theme of the workshop, ‘Institutionalising Behavioural Approaches to Reduce Corruption in Politics in Nigeria’ as timely, he said that it is a clarion call to action and a reminder that beyond the laws, enforcement and penalties lies the critical battleground of mindsets and culture.

He recalled that the ICPC had, in 2020, in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), developed the National Ethics and Integrity Policy, which, he said, has become a veritable tool for galvanising national behavior modification aspirations.

He said: “While the ICPC and the government are working tirelessly to promote these core values that will positively impact the practice of anti-corruption social norms across the country, we implore you, political leaders, to join us in mainstreaming this policy in the political system.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, said the training came at a time when law enforcement agencies were overburdened with the fight against corruption and financial crimes.

The EFCC boss, represented by the Head of Legal and Prosecution, Francis Usani, lamented that despite efforts made by the government through the passage and enactment of relevant anti-corruption laws, regulations and policies, corruption still has not abated.

He said: “This Is not to say that criminals and corrupt individuals are not arrested, investigated, prosecuted, convicted and sent to prison daily, but despite all these achievements by law enforcement agencies corruption still pervades our societies.”

According to Olukoyede, behavioural change has become critical in complementing the traditional means of fighting corruption. Also speaking, the Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yusuf Dantalle, urged the Federal Government to adequately fund registered political parties in Nigeria to enable them to participate actively in the election process.

Dantalle, who doubles as the National Chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), maintained that it is only through this way that the nation could reduce the influence of money in politics. (The Guardian)

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