ABUJA— Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, may be crippled next year if the Federal Government’s slashing of its 2013 budget proposal by N11.7 billion sails through the National Assembly.

Already, EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Larmode, has expressed concern that the development might prevent the agency from meeting its personnel cost in 2013.

The anti-graft agency had proposed N21,028,488,772 billion to fund its operations in 2013, but the Budget Office approved N9,328,159,022 billion, less than half of the commission’s request to meet capital, personnel and overhead expenditure items next year.

While defending the commission’s 2013 budget proposals before the House of Representatives Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes yesterday, Larmode told the committee that the Federal Government failed to release N25 million appropriated for the purchase of arms and ammunition for the commission this year.

Members of the Adams Jagaba-led Committee queried phased releases of funds by the Finance Ministry to EFCC as evident in 15 percent deficit in cash-backed 2012 release to the commission with a month left to the end of the fiscal year.

Due to allegations of politically-motivated prosecutions, EFCC has come under criticisms lately for its seeming lukewarm approach to its anti-corruption fight.

Clerverly: If the Govt. can stick to the cut, that should be commendable. A staff of the agency i know very well has acquired multi-million naira properties in choice locations within the country. And i keep wondering how can this be possible with his earnings as a crime officer.
So i will even suggest sinking that agency as it has outlived its usefulness.

Abujafood: Unless I'm missing my facts EFCC has less than 3000 personnel, why spend N21 bn on their operations for 12 months?

Abujafood: Unless I'm missing my facts EFCC has less than 3000 personnel, why spend N21 bn on their operations for 12 months?

Area_boy: N21,028,488,772 billion


thats N21 billion billion

KINGwax: but your president can spend billions on meals per day? I heard 1.3billion aint even enough!
Now, do u knw how much it costs to investigate, prosecute and pursue a case?
Well, i won't be suprised if they started accepting bribes from A to prosecute B for the benefit of A!

PointB: Not sure how EFCC runs their operations, but N21 Billion Naira is a princely sum. I support the cut!

excondido: when u r nt sure u stay mute. no amount is too big to fight d monster that have come to stay.

plendil:

Can you imagine that?? Other than personnel, what exactly do they need so much money for? They don't have any capital expenditure as far as I know.

Investigations cost money......lots of it. Suspects will have to be transported from Detention to courts,(flights, fuel for cars) be fed, pay lawyers and other logistic arrangements.
Do you know how much it cost the UK to successfully prosecute Ibori.................£14 million (about N3.6billion).
Now this is just for 1 person only. Now do a random extrapolation to the numerous 'thieves' we have in this Country.....your guess is as good as mine.

As far as I am concerned, no amount is too much to fight corruption. By the way, its funny how a government that wants to fight corruption slashes the funds meant for this very fight but brings up frivolous expenditures like building an extra new banquet hall for the state house (over 2 Billion). An irony I must say.

Billyonaire: EFCC should be scrapped, ICPC should also be scrapped. Their budgetary allocation should be handed over to the Police and the Military Police. EFCC and ICPC are just external police posts with branding. Infact, EFCC is more corrupt than corruption itself.

Iykopee: i see no reason why EFCC shud exit @ first

take dat: This EFCC sef no serious, so they expect government to adequately fund them so that they can start chasing political office holders, government officials and their cronies outside government around town? Its another way to alert EFCC and Nigerians that Corruption has come to stay, its the Insignia of Government hence why EFCC will remain underfunded and a toothless dog!

Iykopee: i see no reason why EFCC shud exit @ first