By Kayode Olabanji, Okitipupa

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In a bid to curb corruption and financial crimes in the state, the Ondo State Public Complaints, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption Commission (SPFACC) has organised a capacity-building workshop for stakeholders.

The event, held at Crystal Event Palace along Okitipupa-Igbokoda Road in Okitipupa, brought together representatives from traditional leaders, local government chairpersons, and top officials from six local governments in the Ondo South Senatorial District.

The workshop aimed to promote accountable governance and transparency in local government administration.

Justice Williams Akintoroye, SPFACC Chairman and former Chief Judge of Ondo State, while addressing the gathering, stressed the urgency of institutionalising good practices in local governments.

“If local governments do the right thing, there will be no cause for worry,” he emphasised.

Akintoroye lamented that corruption has severely hindered Nigeria’s development, resulting in underfunded education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

Other experts who shared insights on combating corruption, including Professor Adewole Adeyeye, SPFACC Secretary,  highlighted corruption red flags in local government systems.

Dr Daniel Adekeye, an Associate Professor at Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), provided an overview of corruption in Nigeria’s governance system.

Mrs Funmilayo Osundolire, a retired Permanent Secretary and Pharmacist, emphasised ethics and professionalism for efficiency and accountability.

Additionally, Barrister Cyril Akinrinsola, a retired Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General, shed light on the Ondo State Public Complaints, Financial Crimes, and Anti-Corruption Commission Law 2022 and its implications for local governments.

With this collective effort, Ondo State takes a significant step towards combating corruption and promoting good governance at the local level.