The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, has commended the efforts of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, for its ‘enduring efforts in improving corporate governance through innovative, professional and effective mechanisms in Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs’.
Mallam Bello, giving the commendations during a sensitisation workshop for top management staff of Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA, in Abuja recently, commended the Commission’s Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard which saw FCTA emerge as top scorer in the year 2020 rating, and stated that the success was attributable to the active role played by the FCT Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit, ACTU.
TheFact Nigeria notes that ACTU, was established by the ICPC as one of the implementation mechanisms to achieve its mandate on prohibition and prevention of corruption especially in the Public Service. ACTUs are established in MDAs of government and operate as autonomous outfits with functional linkages with the office of the Chief Executives of the MDAs.
This, the FCT Minister noted, serves as an effective tool, not only in checking corrupt practices in MDAs and blocking corrupt prone areas, but also in enlisting public servants in the fight against corruption.
The Minister further warned civil servants against a conspiracy of silence in reporting corruption, adding that they become victims of corruption when they fail to report to relevant authorities.
He encouraged staff to continue to follow the laid down rules and regulations, and commended them for coming tops in the 2020 ICPC Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard which, he said, was a reflection of the collective effort of staff and management.
Earlier in his goodwill message the Chairman of ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, represented by the Director, Systems Study and Review Department, SSRD, of the Commission, Mr. Abbia Udofia, told participants that the ACTU was not aimed at witch-hunting staff, but to serve as a cleaning agent to assist the Ministry and spread the gospel of anti-corruption, as well as complement the efforts of management to ensure that things were done the right way.
Owosanoye said the event was aimed at educating staff on the ills and scourge of corruption, and hoped that lessons learnt from the lectures would help in driving the activities and work of the Ministry and ICPC.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary FCTA, Mr. Olusola Adesola said that the unsavoury effects of corruption and other associated ills could not be overemphasized, as it had the propensity to largely undermine the developmental strides and programmes of any administration or country.
He added that the challenge associated with the menace was not only that funds and government resources were being systematically siphoned by dishonest persons and groups both within and outside of government, but consequentially, it deprived vulnerable masses of basic social amenities meant to serve them.
Adesola went on to say that FCTA was poised to enlighten and sensitize all its officials on ways to completely eliminate corrupt practices in the system, while stressing that the sensitization lectures would be one in the many series of engagements with various staff levels with a view to fostering better understanding of the required standards of public service rules and regulations.
Thereafter, three insightful lectures were delivered by ICPC officers on the topics “Combatting Corruption in the Public Service and Entrenching Integrity, Transparency and Accountability in the Workplace”, “Whistle Blowing Protection Reward System”, and “An Overview of the ICPC Ethics and Integrity Compliance Score Card”.
In her vote of thanks, the ACTU Chairperson, FCTA, Ms. Bunmi Olowookere said the active participation of staff during the lecture showed their commitment to the fight against corruption, and pledged that FCTA would always be a reference point in the fight against corruption amongst MDAs and Nigeria at large.
