By Rotimi Ojomoyela
Ado-Ekiti- Determined to expose corrupt civil servants and individuals, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) on Tuesday declared that it would start using volunteers as whistle blowers.
The Chairman of the commission, Mr. Ekpo Nta said this in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital, while inaugurating the state chapter of the National Anti- Corruption Volunteer Corps, (NAVC), adding that no corrupt person would have a place to hide when the volunteers begin full operation.
The ICPC boss who was represented on the occassion by a Deputy Director, who doubles as the National Coordinator of the volunteer corps, Mr. Mike Sowe said the basic job of the volunteers, who would be inaugurated in all the 36 states of the federation include intense mobilisation against sharp practices ad well as providing scoops that would lead to the apprehension of fraudulent persons or group.
He said the commission had realised that no country had ever won their wars against corruption without making use of volunteers.
According to him, no fewer than 500 applications were received by the commission from Ekiti state alone, out of which only 100 applicants were selected.
He explained that the criteria used n selecting the lucky ones included that applicants must not be less than 25 years, and must be in gainful employment already before appling to be volunteers, and that they will not be expected to be paid emolulents by the ICPC.
He warned the volunteers against deviating from the noble ideals of the commission by not using their position to resort to illegal arrests, harass or intimidate innocent person.
He announced that a mandatory training progrsmme would be organized for all the successful volunteers to enable them understand the nitty gritty of the nature of corruption as well as get used ti the operational guidelines of the NAVC.
The ICPC boss warned that erring ones among them would have his membership withdrawn in the event of any adverce report against them by members if the oublic.
Besides, he threatened that the commission would also not hesitate to take criminal action against any abuse by any volunteer.
