The chairman of the Independent Corruption Practices and others Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, has said that the activities of the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency will not conflict with that of the ICPC.
Owasanoye, who added that the agency was not averse to states complementing its efforts in fighting corruption, spoke during the commissioning of ICPC’s Oyo State Office complex in Ibadan.
Noting that the ICPC had limited staff strength and was only present in 15 states of the country, he noted that states were also expected to tackle corruption in their own system.
“Every state has the duty to try and diminish corruption within its own system, so if a state sets up an anti-corruption agency, it can only help not conflict. Mind you our staff strength as ICPC is less than 1,000. We are supposed to be in 36 states, we are in 15 states, so Oyo state will cover the contiguous states. Clearly, if the states take the initiative, it can never be too much, it can only improve the situation,” Owasanoye said.
While doing the ceremonial tape cutting to inaugurate the ICPC building, Oyo state governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde asked that the collaboration between the state and the agency in battling corruption be sustained.
Makinde, represented by Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun said the state government had shown a commitment to fighting corruption by having an Oyo state anti-corruption law and adopting inclusive budgeting procedure.
