- ICPC Chairman Owasanoye highlights prevention over enforcement in combating corruption, emphasizing behavior change and positive values.
- Workshop on National Ethics and Integrity Policy (NEIP) discusses instilling honesty and integrity values in children for a corrupt-free society.
Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has stated that relying solely on enforcement will not end corruption in Nigeria.
He emphasised that preventing corruption is more effective and cost-effective than simply enforcing it.
On Tuesday, the ICPC boss revealed this at a one-day sensitization workshop for stakeholders on Bringing about Behavioural Change in Society Using National Ethics and Integrity Policy (NEIP), which the MacArthur Foundation supported.
Given Nigeria’s current lack of values such as honesty and integrity, Owasanoye emphasised that the desired changes cannot be achieved without a shift in citizens’ behaviour.
He urged deliberate efforts to transform negative behaviours into positive ones by cultivating positive values.
Prof. Owasanoye stated that the fight against corruption cannot be based solely on law and order (enforcement).
He acknowledged that citizens should ideally respect laws, uphold commitments, diligently perform duties, and value others while refraining from government theft, cheating, and deception.
He stated that many people fall short of this ideal, emphasising the importance of taking proactive steps to shift negative behaviours towards positive ones by promoting positive values.
The Secretary to the Kaduna State Government (SSG), Malam Balarabe Lawal Abbas, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet and Political Affairs, Nuhu Isiaku Buzum, emphasised the importance of instilling honesty and integrity values in children in order to create a corrupt-free society.
Civil society organisations, private sector representatives, academics, and civil servants from federal and state ministries and agencies were among those who attended the workshops.