The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has received commendation from the Senate for the performance of its 2017 budget.
Senator Godfrey Chukwuka Utazi, Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, gave the commendation during the 2017 budget evaluation at the National Assembly, Abuja.
“The budget year hasn’t been easy for everybody, but we appreciate all the Commission has done so far in the fight against corruption in the country”, he said.
Utazi, who commended the numerous achievements of the anti-graft agency, urged it not to despair in its efforts to rid the nation of economic and financial crimes adding that “corruption fight is a thankless job”.
He added that to get the job done, the EFCC should forget about getting compliments and focus on making Nigeria strong adding that, the senate would play its part to stop people from milking Nigeria dry and ensure that funds were utilised frugally.
The senator stressed the importance of corruption prevention over prosecution saying, “the issue of enlightenment and prevention is at the heart of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, UNCAC”.
According to him, “60 percent of the fight against corruption should be geared toward prevention and not just prosecution”. He said that, if prevention of corruption was well focused, there would be fewer cases taken to court.
Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman, EFCC gave a breakdown of activities in the year under review.
According to him, “a total of N17.20billion was appropriated to the Commission for the year 2017, out of which a total of N9.3billion was released.
He added that a total of N8.91billion had been used, representing 96% utilization.
The EFCC boss, while appreciating the Committee for all its support hoped for better funding to enable the Commission carry out its functions effectively.
He also thanked the Committee for its support towards the “work at the permanent site of the EFCC saying “the work is 90 percent completed in terms of structure”.