The chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and related offenses Commission, ICPC, Bolaji Owasanoye, has disclosed the challenges militating against the fight against corruption in the country.
Speaking on Tuesday during a one-day stakeholders’ dialogue on the National Ethics and Integrity Policy for the Northwest Zone in Kano, the ICPC chairman said lack of national values has made corruption so rampant in the country.
The chairman also noted that there are snags in the implementation and enforcement of anti-corruption policies in the country.
He, therefore, explained that the dialogue was conceived out of the need to resuscitate the values of honesty and integrity among Nigerians.
“The National Ethics and Integrity Policy is a child of necessity. It was conceived and delivered out of the urgent need to resuscitate and rejuvenate the lost values of honesty and integrity as a nation.
“The values of yesteryears of truthfulness, nationalism and respect for human dignity have been lost on us that is why corruption has become so rampant in the society.
“It is a fact that Nigeria is not lacking in policies and laws aimed at curbing corruption and indiscipline.
“Perhaps, what is lacking is implementation and effective enforcement, based on well-designed Standard Operational Procedure (SOP),” Mr Owasanoye added.
According to him, the dialogue is the initiative of the ICPC in collaboration with the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, and National Orientation Agency, NOA.
He noted that the program, approved by the Federal Executive Council on August 17, 2020, was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on September 28, last year.
He further explained that the dialogue would take place across the country on a zonal basis, involving all segments of the society, especially the youths.
