Questions are currently being asked about the status of the anti-corruption campaign of the Federal  Government  given the recent reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the institutional warehouse of the campaign against corruption in Nigeria, is cash-strapped. Indeed, the commission is fast becoming a mere emblem as it is handcuffed financially, to the extent that it can no longer foot the bills of lawyers who are prosecuting corruption cases for it. Similarly, the commission is reportedly not solvent enough to carry out its anti-corruption campaign. An official of the commission was quoted as saying: “It is painful one could be in this mess. Imagine an agency fighting corruption being financially incapacitated.”

Mr Ibrahim Larmode, chairman of the EFCC, while speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives early in the year, had said “In 2012, we requested N21.8 billion from the budget office of the federation out of which N10.9 billion was allocated. Not even a kobo was released to the commission out of the N200 million and N700 million it requested for legal services and staff/ office equipment and insurance premium in 2012. Out of the N10 billion required for the constitution of the head office of the commission in 2012, only a paltry N1.39 billion was released to the commission.”

The EFCC was established by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 2003 as a result of the pervasive  corruption in the country, particularly across the levels of government. As a result of the vigour and commitment with which the pioneer chairman of the commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, pursued corrupt politicians at inception, international donors took interest in the campaign and identified with the crusade financially. Since the exit of Mallam Ribadu from the commission, however, not much has been heard about foreign assistance. This is inspite of corruption being on the ascendancy in the country, at least going by reports of wanton stealing of the nation’s resources by some individuals.

Corruption remains a major issue in Nigeria, which may account for why political office holders and some privileged Nigerians live in luxury and ostentation. Sadly, the EFCC which should go after such people is (deliberately?) cash-starved. To worsen matters, there are even corruption allegations against some EFCC officials, raising some nagging questions. 

For instance, what has become of the properties and billions of naira the commission seized from some individuals over the years? The EFCC should be, and be seen as being, above aboard in the discharge of its constitutional mandate.  There is therefore the need to get rid of the bad eggs within the commission itself and put it back on track. It is when the rank and file of the commission are seen to be transparent in all their operations that the commission can get the needed support from Nigerians. However, starving it of funds will certainly not be to the good of Nigeria.

Similarly, the allegation that the commission is being used as a  political weapon erodes confidence in its operations. If the EFCC is to really function as a viable anti-corruption crusader, it must be seen to be carrying out its activities without fear or favour. For instance, the fact that the seven dissenting governors (G7) in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have demanded a halt in the EFCC’s probe of their activities as a condition for sheathing their swords is a proof that the commission is perceived as a political tool.

For Nigeria to make progress economically, it needs a functional, solvent and non-compromising EFCC. Therefore, the budget of the commission as well as those of other anti-graft agencies must be sacrosanct. Their budgets must be painstakingly prepared, given a special treatment by all stakeholders in the administration of budgets, approved, released and cash–backed. It is by so doing that the EFCC and allied agencies will be able to tackle corruption. In return, the commission and its sister agencies should render accounts of their stewardship at the appropriate time.

On his part, Mr Larmode should wake the commission up from its present slumber. He should return the EFCC to the good old days when the mere mention of its name made politicians to shiver. The truth about the commission now is that it lacks the vigour and vitality which were its trademarks under Ribadu. The chairman has to prove to Nigerians and the international community that he can shepherd the EFCC to achieve results. This is the only way it can earn the support and confidence of all.