The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Productivity Centre (NPC) have partnered to boost productivity and tackle corruption.
The EFCC announced the partnership
between both parties to collaborate on a wide range of initiatives aimed at tackling corruption and boosting productivity in the commanding heights of Nigeria’s economy.
Speaking on Thursday, September 5, 2024, during a courtesy visit to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, the NPC Director-General, Baffa Babban Dan’agundi said the partnership would help his agency achieve its mandate of monitoring the productivity of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the country.
Dan’agundi who assumed office barely a month ago said the NPC had already started working with some MDAs with remarkable results.
“We have started working with some of the MDAs and they are sending a lot of accolades. We had only three training sessions when I came and I understand we have a lot to do in terms of improving the productivity of the MDAs and the country at large,” he said.
“We believe the mandate of this agency should be put into use and some of these actions which we have started enrolling.
“We hope you will work with us and that you will give us this opportunity and we pray we don’t disappoint you,” Dan’agundi said.
The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede welcomed the collaboration, saying it would help in tackling corruption which he identified as a major obstacle to productivity in Nigeria.
“There is a nexus between the issue of productivity and corruption. I believe this is an area where we can collaborate and work together,” Olukoyede said.
“You have a huge assignment and task in your hand as before now, the only thing we heard about your agency is giving of productivity awards and no other thing.”
He tasked the NPC to move beyond just giving productivity awards and work towards measuring productivity in 774 local government areas (LGAs) and the federal level.
Olukoyede also advised the NPC to be diligent in selecting recipients of productivity awards, saying: “In the past, we have seen where awards were given to all manners of criminals and other financial crimes suspects. Be diligent in the people you give awards to.”
The two agencies have agreed to work together in areas such as training, administration and Servicom.
Olukoyede said that the EFCC was open to learning from the NPC, particularly in the area of administration and Servicom.
“We are open to knowledge every time, if there are areas where we can collaborate, particularly in the area of administration and Servicom, we don’t mind, we are open to it,” he said.
