Magu Charges Public Officers Not To Betray Public Trust

The Acting Chairman of the Economic  and Financial  Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu has admonished public officers not to betray the trust reposed in them by the people. He gave the advice on Saturday March 24, 2018 at Awka, Anambra State while delivering a lecture entitled, ‘A New Dawn : Expectations from the Public Sector’, at a two-day retreat for senior state officers, newly sworn-in  commissioners and heads of parastatals on the importance of avoiding unforseen and embarrassing problems while carrying out their official duties, especially as they relate to corruption,  economic  and financial  crimes.

Magu observed that government business is about people and processes that drive it. He encouraged  the officials to align with the guiding principles  of SERVICOM and promote transparency and effective service delivery in their various areas of responsibilities. According  to him, ” the service component  of your engagement with the  Nigerian people is enshrined in the SERVICOM charter, which tasks all officials and agencies of government with ensuring quick, efficient and effective service to the citizenry in line with the principles of accountability, transparency and honesty”. Magu maintained that “the betrayal of public trust is the worst crime a public officer can commit against the people”.

Magu observed that a  precondition to service is purging oneself of all vices that may negatively influence one’s conduct, pointing out that eliminating all sources of conflict of interest was a good beginning for a successful  public life.

In his remarks, the Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano expressed his gratitude to the EFCC boss for his personal presence at the event, adducing that receiving the message directly from the corruption  fighter would make a lasting impression and impact positively on the jobs of the officers. While assuring the Acting Chairman of his team’s confidence in the anti corruption campaign, Obiano reiterated that as leaders, he and his team were vicariously liable for crimes committed  by their subordinates.

The two-day  retreat was an intense exercise by the newly inaugurated Obiano administration  to position the cabinet for better performance.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media and Publicity