The media has been enjoined to join hands in fight against corruption as this is the only way Nigeria can be better .
The commissioner of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, in Osun State, Mr. Demola Bakare made the call while addressing members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Osun during his familiarization visit .
Bakare who said the media being the fourth Estate of the realm must join the fight against corruption and corrupt practices if indeed the quest for a better nation and development would be realistic .
According to ICPC boss, the commission’s core mandate is to monitor federal government projects and block all leakages that usually result to corruption.
Noting that the agency works in collaboration with other sister forces, he said that it has become necessary to carry the media along in it’s operations.
The duties of the Commission are contained in section 6 (a-f) of the Act 2000. This section confers three main responsibilities on ICPC. In summary, they are:
“To receive and investigate reports of the conspiracy to commit, attempt to commit or actual commission of offence(s) as prescribed by the Act 2000 and in appropriate cases prosecute the offender(s).
“Also to examine and review corruption-prone systems and procedures of public bodies, with a view to eliminating or
minimizing corruption.
“To educate and enlighten the public on and against corruption and related offences with a view to enlisting and fostering public support in fighting.”
On the japa syndrome, where many Nigerian Youths are moving out of the country in search of greener pasture abroad, the ICPC commissioner said Nigeria is a better country noting that the youths traveling out of the country are doing so because of the get-rich-quick syndrome.
His words: “Yes we hear about the japa syndrome by many Nigerians especially the youths but their mission is just to make quick money.
“Nigeria is a good country. We all need to make it better, so moving out of the country is never a solution but all hands must be on deck to fight corruption and possibly eradicate it .”
Earlier, the Chairman of Correspondents Chapel, Mr. Sina Abubakar commended the ICPC boss for paying a courtesy visit to the chapel realising the importanoce of the media in the quest to fight corruption in the land.
He said going by the background of the Mr Bakare who was once a media professional before joining the Agency, the media will continue to play its constitutional role of being the watchdog of the society.
Abubakar, however, assured the commission that journalists will give adequate publicity to the commission urging him to avail them necessary information whenever the need arises.
