By Bukola Olamona

The Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has intensified efforts to combat job racketeering by organising a workshop to address the practice and its damaging effects on public service.

The workshop, held under the directive of the Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, aimed to curb the growing menace, which continues to undermine governance and public trust.

Justice Williams Akintoroye, Chair of the Ondo State Public Complaints, Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Commission, and Barrister Kehinde Adetoye of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), served as keynote speakers at the event.

During his remarks, the Ondo State Commandant, Oluyemi Ibiloye, described job racketeering as a disgraceful act plaguing the civil service.

He called for a united front against the problem, labelling it a “monster” that must be eradicated. “Job racketeering has become an embarrassing blight on public service,” he declared.

Justice Akintoroye highlighted the judiciary’s pivotal role in fighting corruption, referencing the Supreme Court’s stance on the issue.

He warned that allowing corruption to persist could destroy governance entirely. “If we fail to kill corruption, corruption will kill us,” he cautioned.

He identified factors such as unemployment, economic instability, systemic corruption, and cultural influences as enablers of job racketeering, describing it as a cancer within Nigeria’s civil service. The practice, he noted, erodes meritocracy and weakens public confidence in institutions.

To address the issue, Justice Akintoroye proposed judicial reforms, the use of technology for oversight, vocational training, and increased public awareness.

He stressed the need for integrity-driven leadership, remarking, “We need CEOs who care about integrity, not just the bottom line.”

The event attracted senior officials, divisional officers, and members of the command’s anti-fraud unit, demonstrating a strong commitment to ending the practice.

The NSCDC’s message was unequivocal: job racketeering and corruption would no longer be tolerated.

While the long-term impact of the workshop remains uncertain, the Ondo NSCDC has made its position clear, vowing to tackle corruption head-on before it compromises the institution’s integrity.