Law and order measures alone won’t be sufficient to lower crime, according to Bolaji Owasanoye, chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).

At a training session for chief executive officers (CEOs), Owasanoye spoke on Thursday in Abuja. He gave public agency CEOs advice on the consequences of making poor choices while in office, TheCable report

In addition to punishment, deterrence and reform are other goals of criminal punishment. “The law and order approach alone is ineffective to reduce crime, as we have seen not just in Nigeria but in many other nations, he said.

“Especially when you are dealing with corruption to stabilize the polity. So, there are prevention measures, but more critical is the need for behavior change.

“If people change their approach to issues, then, of course, there will be a marked improvement in the outcomes.”

He said no matter how long it takes, one will be made to face the law for wrongdoing.

“The law and order [approach] says that if you go contrary to the law, this is the consequence,” Owasonoye said.

“You took a decision today and it wasn’t the best decision and you get out of that, some day, you will be called upon to answer it.”

The ICPC boss said CEOs are exposed to all kinds of pressure which are associated with the ecosystem and the mandates of their appointment.

“I do not understand how people will build careers in a particular field and be globally recognized as experts in their field, and when they go to international conferences to present papers, the world listens. “And such people, if they get appointed to head one small agency, they become something different,” he said.

“How can you ruin the career you built for over 30 to 40 years just because you are given an appointment to head an agency for a period of 4 to 8 years?”

Owasanoye added that paper qualification is not the most critical requirement for leading an agency, adding that it does not guarantee success.