The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, has called on members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to embrace hard work and shun all acts of economic and financial crimes, including Yahoo yahoo practices.
Bawa made the call on Thursday, February 9, 2023 in a lecture delivered to corps members Batch A, Stream 1, at the NYSC’s Orientation Camp, Katsina State.
Speaking at the lecture themed: “Roles of Youths in Curbing Economic and Financial Crimes”, the anti-graft czar noted that with hard work, corps members would be insulated from corrupt practices, unhealthy and unprofitable engagements and focus more on socially-beneficial activities.
He reminded the corps members that “here is no short cut to success”, and that “those who take short cuts are always cut short”. He added that “Yahoo yahoo is a crime against humanity and God. It is not a sustainable way of life. The EFCC urges you to be innovative, forward- looking and hard- thinking”.
Bawa, who was represented at the lecture by the Head, Public Affairs Department, Kano Zonal Command of the EFCC, Idris Isiyaku, while making reference to youths in other lands who are involved in innovations, manufacturing and pace- setting inventions in the knowledge of the economy, also affirmed that the world was waiting for new thinkers, and challenged them to “fit in the mould of world changers.”
In the same vein, speaking to corps members at the Nonwa NYSC camp in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State, capital, the EFCC chair, represented by Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, ASE, James Adayilo, tasked corps members to be change agents and to influence their environments positively.
“You cannot tackle any crime that you are committing. Be a change agent by refusing to be involved, collaborate, facilitate or perpetrate any form of economic crime. In your places of primary assignment, steer clear of criminality. This way, you can positively influence everyone around you”, he said.
To their counterparts at the NYSC’s orientation camp, Iyana- Ipaja, Lagos, the EFCC’s helmsman, represented by Deputy Commander of the EFCC, DCE Ayo Oyewole, enjoined corps members to be whistle blowers thereby exposing corrupt activities in their environments.
He urged them to “join the army of those rejecting economic crimes and other acts of corruption, by reporting those committing them in your locality”. He also encouraged them to join the EFCC/NYSC CD group, adding that it would enable them to have an enduring relationship with the Commission.
Also in Keffi, Nasarawa State, the Chairman, who spoke through Senior Superintendent of the EFCC, SE Ngoundu Nguetar, challenged corps members to use their innate abilities to be problem solvers.
He urged them to join the league of Nigerians using the Eagle Eye App to report corrupt acts in their environments, reminding them of the mantra, “when you SEE SOMETHING, you must SAY SOMETHING and DO SOMETHING”.
Bawa’s message was also relayed to corps members in other orientation camps in Abuja, Uyo and Kaduna among others.
