By Yemi Akinsuyi
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has tasked the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, Engineer Jennifer Adighije on integrity and accountability, adding that public service “is a privilege that demands unwavering commitment to probity”.
Olukoyede gave the charge in Abuja on Tuesday, when the management team of NDPHC, led by Adighije paid him a courtesy visit at the EFCC’s corporate headquarters.
“I advise you not to do anything you cannot defend tomorrow. We have seen situations where people were recalled 20 years after leaving public service to answer for what they did while in office. Positions of trust demand utmost transparency and accountability,” he said.
Olukoyede, who noted that the EFCC and NDPHC are involved in tackling two of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges: corruption and power, explained that addressing these two core national problems would greatly help in advancing the country’s development.
“If you fix power and energy, you have taken care of 77 percent of Nigeria’s problems. Corruption as well, if we get it right, Nigeria will be out of its troubles,” he said.
He lauded NDPHC’s quest for observance of due process and preparedness to strengthen its regulatory compliance and pledged the assistance of the Commission to the company in instances where its contractors fall short in their contractual obligations to it.
“If you have awarded contracts and some people have not performed, or if some of your power stations have been given to certain people to maintain but they have violated financial laws, procurement processes, or other regulations, let us know,” he said, noting that the cooperation between the EFCC and NDPHC would henceforth deter corrupt contractors and instill discipline among them.
Adighije had earlier in her remarks pointed at NDPHC’s commitment to maintaining strict adherence to transparency, legal and regulatory frameworks as well as a desire to forge a cooperation with the EFCC.
“We are here first to familiarize ourselves with the agency and to seek your cooperation while being guided by extant laws and regulations,” she said.
