FG Reaffirms Non-Interference in ICPC, EFCC Operations
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to allowing anti-corruption agencies operate independently without political interference, stressing that the institutions are not being used as tools to witch-hunt the opposition.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, gave the assurance on Wednesday at the opening of the ICPC Roundtable Engagement on Agenda Setting for Strategic Integration of State Commissioners of Information in the Fight Against Corruption, held in Abuja.
Idris said President Bola Tinubu’s administration is strengthening the institutional framework for fighting corruption through the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“By its policy of non-interference, the Tinubu administration has made it clear that anti-corruption agencies are not instruments of political witch-hunt. They operate with independence and professionalism in line with the rule of law,” he said.
The Minister, however, maintained that there would be no safe haven for corruption in Nigeria, adding that the President is pursuing far-reaching judicial reforms to address unnecessary delays in corruption trials and ensure that justice is neither denied nor endlessly deferred.
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He said transparency and accountability remain pillars of democracy and are central to the Renewed Hope Agenda. According to him, state commissioners of information have a key role to play in cascading accurate information on anti-corruption efforts down to the grassroots.
“The theme of this roundtable — Partnership for Strengthening Transparency and Accountability at State and Local Government Levels Through Strategic Communications — aptly justifies the presence of all State Commissioners of Information, who have the onerous task of distilling and cascading information to other strata of the Nigerian society,” Idris noted.
The Minister urged state governments to look beyond partisanship and key into President Tinubu’s economic reforms, which he said are geared towards inclusion, diversification, growth, and sustainable development.
“I wish to implore you all, Honourable Commissioners, that irrespective of the political party you belong to, it is important you identify with the massive opportunities inherent in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, who is relentless in reshaping our economy to address years of neglect and achieve steady development,” he said.
Idris also commended the ICPC, under the leadership of Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, for its innovative approach to development communication, which emphasizes collaboration with state and local government stakeholders in advancing transparency and accountability.
By PRNigeria
