A Non-Governmental Organisation known as Initiative for Mass Action Against Corruption (IMEAC), has urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to consider granting of amnesty to corrupt public officers who willingly return stolen public funds in their possession.
According to the group, the federal government should pardon officials who willingly confess past misdeeds and volunteer to return any illegal gains from such acts, in order to earn the confidence of those who may be scared of confessing such crimes due to fear of prosecution.
At a rally in Kaduna, National Coordinator of the group, Dr Friday Sani, noted that if the present administration was serious about winning its war on corruption, it needs to focus on preventing future crimes by identifying the immediate and remote causes.
He identified corruption as the greatest challenge confronting the nation, which he said would take both the carrot and stick approach to address.
He also called on government and anti-corruption agencies to partner with credible civil society organisations in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
With the anti-corruption war of the Buhari administration getting more support from within and outside the country, this group is of the view that corruption, which has permeated all aspect of the economy, needs to be tackled with new approaches and fresh strategies.
They believe more in the strategy of using mass education and awareness creation to fight the monster.
According to its coordinator, advocacy, outreach, networking, legal intrusion and moral persuasion are the best ways to go about the anti-corruption war.
