Bolaji Owasanoye, chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), says Nigerians must change their behaviours for the country to switch to the desired level.

The ICPC chairman said this on Tuesday in Minna at a National Ethics and Integrity Policy workshop organised for stakeholders in the North-Central zone.

The stakeholders included civil society, faith-based organisations, community associations, media, youth groups, professional bodies and representatives of the organised private sector.

The ICPC boss said the law and order approach was insufficient to curb corruption in Nigeria based on the country’s current situation.

“The ideal behaviour for citizens is that they should respect the laws of the land, keep their words, do their duty with diligence, respect and value other human beings, not get involved in stealing from the government, cheating others or any form of deception,” the ICPC boss said.

However, Mr Owasanoye, represented by the Niger Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Zayyana Dan-Musa, said, “Unfortunately, many people are far from the ideal.”

He said the vast majority of Nigerians must make intentional efforts to turn around negative behaviours into positive ones through the inclusion of positive values.

The ICPC chairman charged the stakeholders to spread the information and message of positive behavioural change to all Nigerians.

Earlier, Mr Dan-Musa, represented by Baba Shuib, ICPC head of public enlightenment and education in the state, said it was important for Nigerians to ensure integrity, transparency and accountability in their public and private lives for the country to progress.

(NAN)