Enugu Traditional rulers urge ICPC to establish offices in communities

Traditional rulers in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State have urged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to establish its office in their communities.

The monarchs stated this during a town hall meeting with officials of the commission in Enugu State. This is even as they stated that the move was to add bite to the federal and state government’s crusade against corruption.

According to Igwe Mike Odo, the chairman of Igbo-Etiti Traditional Rulers Council, the call had become necessary following increasing corrupt acts and impunity in the rural areas.

Odo who noted that corruption needs to be tackled from the grassroots said that religious organisations, council of elders, community associations was not spared of corrupt tendencies, stressing that the time had come for Nigerians to inculcate spirit of integrity and transparency in up-and-coming generations.

“The issue of corruption should be addressed from kindergarten so that as the children grow up it will become part of them,” he said.

Odo said it was sad that corruption had over the years assumed a frightening dimension in the country, adding, “We are happy that you came to enlighten us.”

Corroborating Odo, the traditional ruler of Ihekwuenu Aku, Igwe Chris Okwor said that the National Anti-corruption Volunteer Corps (NAVC); a brainchild of the ICPC aimed at providing relevant information to the commission was a lofty idea.

Okwor however, said that the objectives of establishing NAVC may not be achieved if volunteers were not placed on monthly stipends.

“It is unnecessary to keep people to work but you will not pay them. They may resort to feeding you with the wrong information or induce the people they come in contact with to settle them,” he said.

Appealing to ICPC for the remuneration of NAVC members, Okwor, added that their contributions were strategic to the success of the anti corruption crusade.

Earlier, the Southeast Zonal Commissioner of the ICPC, Mr. Sule Amedu lamenting the counter-developmental effect of corruption to the economy of Nigeria, said that the commission was on a sensitization tour of local government areas under the zone.

Amedu said that it was the wish of the commission to inculcate spirit of integrity, transparency, hard work and decency on the younger generation.

The ICPC zonal commissioner said that volunteers under NAVC were expected to have sources of income and as such would not be paid for the service they render for the ICPC.

He added that NAVC had been remodeled for effective operation and called on residents of the area to enroll into the volunteer group in order to assist the agency in fighting the war against corruption.