By Erewunmi Peace

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kassim Afegbua, has condemned the unrealistic expectations placed on Nigeria’s anti-corruption officers, arguing that no meaningful progress can be achieved when those tasked with fighting corruption are underpaid and inadequately equipped.

Speaking during a media interaction, Afegbua emphasized that the current system requires a total overhaul, starting with transparent governance and improved compensation for officials in critical national agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“You can’t be paying me ₦1.5 million monthly and expect me to recover ₦30 billion looted funds. That’s unrealistic. We need to be honest about this fight,” Afegbua said passionately.

He proposed a significant increase in the salary structure for anti-graft officials, even suggesting a monthly salary of up to ₦50 million for the EFCC Chairman—arguing that adequate remuneration would strengthen integrity, reduce susceptibility to bribery, and attract top-tier talent.

Afegbua also criticized the contradiction in deploying young officers with limited salaries to pursue high-profile financial crime cases involving massive amounts of money. According to him, this practice puts the officials in morally compromising situations, undermining the credibility of the anti-corruption war.

“In some cases, we spend more trying to recover stolen funds than the amount that was looted. The entire process needs reform,” he added.

The APC stalwart’s remarks come amid renewed calls for reform in Nigeria’s anti-corruption architecture, with many Nigerians frustrated by what they see as slow progress and recurring scandals involving top public officials.

Public Reaction

While Afegbua’s call for higher salaries sparked mixed reactions online, some citizens argued that salary alone cannot guarantee integrity. One commenter noted that officials in developed countries often earn less but remain effective because of strong institutions, job security, and functional systems that support a decent standard of living.

“You don’t need so much money to live a quality life in a sane country. What matters is working infrastructure, a fair credit system, and job security,” the user wrote.

As the conversation grows, Afegbua’s comments have reignited debate on the true root causes of corruption in Nigeria—and whether financial incentives alone can address them.