Nigeria must ensure that its public wealth serves the broad population rather than a privileged minority, Speaker of the House of Representatives has said.
Speaker Abbas stated this at the inauguration of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s new Zonal Directorate Office in Awka while representing President Bola Tinubu.
In a post of his official Facebook page, Abbas said the new facility highlighted President Tinubu administration’s commitment to strengthening institutions responsible for fighting economic and financial crimes.
“Corruption steals more than money; it steals the future,” Speaker Abbas said, arguing that funds diverted from public coffers deny citizens better schools, hospitals, roads, jobs and other basic services.
The Speaker said the effectiveness of Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign would depend not only on enforcement but also on strong institutions, transparent public administration, accountability and adherence to due process.
Nigeria’s wealth, the stressed must be deployed to create measurable value for citizens and support broader economic development, rather than being captured by a small group of politically connected individuals.
The inauguration of the EFCC’s Awka Zonal Directorate Office is expected to improve the commission’s operational presence in the South-East, bringing its investigative and enforcement functions closer to communities in the region.
Abbas urged public servants, professionals, civil-society groups and citizens to regard the campaign against corruption as a shared national obligation.
“A Nigeria where integrity governs public service is a Nigeria where prosperity can reach everyone,” the Speaker said.
The remarks come as the Tinubu administration seeks to strengthen public institutions, improve revenue mobilisation and restore investor confidence in the nation’s economy.
