The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said
on Monday that the oil and gas industry would be
among its next set of sectors to be investigated for
alleged corrupt practices.
The Acting Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Mr.
Ibrahim Magu, spoke in Abuja as he appeared before
the House of Representatives Committee on Financial
Crimes to defend the commission’s 2016 budget
proposals.
He, however, avoided giving direct answers to
questions on whether the former Minister of Petroleum
Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, would be
under the searchlight of the agency.
Magu merely responded to such questions by saying
that “the commission will soon move into the
petroleum sector.”
But, he called on the National Assembly to support the
efforts of the agency by making more funds available
for its operations.
For example, he said at a time the commission was
stepping up the anti-graft war, the Ministry of Budget
and National Planning cut its overhead by over
N1billion this year.
Madu disclosed that while the EFCC proposed N2.9bn
for overhead, the ministry slashed it to N1.3bn, a
figure he said represented a shortfall of N1.6bn, “or
116 per cent.”
He complained that the budget cut would affect the
operations of the agency, particularly investigations
into corruption allegations.
“The areas that will be adversely affected are
investigative activities, manpower development and
maintenance of logistics.”
Although, he admitted being aware that government’s
revenue had dwindled due to a sharp fall in crude oil
prices, Magu argued that corruption-fighting was
capital-intensive.
He appealed to the committee to consider approving
additional N500m for “operational activities as more
sectors of the economy may likely come under
investigative activities during the year.”
Magu also spoke of plans by the agency to recruit 750
personnel this year in its bid to build its core members
of staff and reduce the number on secondment from
other organisations.
Ironically, the budget ministry cut the EFCC’s
personnel cost for this year by 6.5 per cent.
In 2015, the personnel cost for 2,173 employees was
N7.1bn.
But, in the 2016 budget, the budget ministry reduced it
to N6.6bn, a decrease of “N463.2million.”
The Chairman of the committee, Mr. Kayode Oladele,
nonetheless, made promises that the House would
look into the complaints of the EFCC.
He said, “As we all know, the current economic
downturns have drastically reduced projected earnings
for the 2016 fiscal year.
“Despite the paucity of funds, the funding of the EFCC
remains a priority for the government.
“The committee shall support the vision of elevating
the EFCC to sustain the current anti-corruption
crusade. “

www.punchng.com/anti-corruption-war-ll-soon-move-to-petroleum-sector-efcc/

Abeg kindly look into Education sector asap.

when will these corruption war end na Dasuki own we se e way we they talk am sure Dasukis own na small matter beside these ones