By Innocent Anaba
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, and Transparency International Nigeria have defended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over its decision to restrict accounts belonging to the Osun State Government, saying protection of public funds should take precedence where there are credible concerns over their possible diversion or misuse.
CISLAC, through its Executive Director and Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Auwal Rafsanjani, said the controversy surrounding the restriction had overlooked a fundamental question: “Who protects the money of the people of Osun when alarm bells ring?”
The organisation, in a statement, maintained that public funds belonged to the people and not to governors, political parties or administrations.
It said salaries, pensions, healthcare, road projects and school feeding programmes depended on the protection of public resources and ensuring that such funds remained available for their intended purposes.
