EFCC boss Bawa Begs Corps Members To Become Whistleblowers 

Young Nigerians, according to Bawa, cannot be spectators in the fight against corruption.

By Omotayo Olutekunbi

Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has urged members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to become actively involved in the agency’s anti-corruption efforts.

On Wednesday, October 27, 2021, many representatives of the 41-year-old emerged at orientation camps across the country, pushing corps members to join the anti-graft agency as foot troops.

Young Nigerians, according to Bawa, cannot be “mere spectators” in the anti-graft campaign and must play a vital role in ending it in Nigeria.

“You should become whistleblowers in any place where you find yourself by reporting acts that fail the simple test of integrity.

“It’s no use lamenting that things are not right with our country. We are inviting you to lend a hand in helping us build a society where there is respect for law and order and where impunity is a thing of the past,” he said.

Whistleblowing is a policy of the federal government that permits members of the public to report financial misconduct, mishandling of public funds, fraud, and other crimes to authorities.

A whistleblower who provides authorities with information that leads to the recovery of stolen public funds and assets may be entitled to a portion of the money recovered, ranging from 2.5 percent to 5.0 percent.

Despite the country’s issues, Bawa’s sensitization lecture on Wednesday urged Nigerian youths to avoid crime and be responsible role models.

“The fact that the rate of unemployment is high should not be an excuse to resort to crime. Acts of criminality might deliver wealth in the short term but ultimately, they lead to misery,” he said.

The EFCC boss warned that leading a life of crime may be degrading, and advised young Nigerians to instead embrace hard work.