Time delay, another form of corruption – ICPC (Daily Trust)

An Honourable member of the Board of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Alhaji Isa Ozi Salami, has described delay of time at occasions popularly known as ‘African Time’ as another form of corruption.
Alhaji Salami spoke in Abuja when he represented the Chairman of the ICPC, Mr Ekpo Nta, at the official launch of “My African Union My Future Campaign; ‘Be the Voice for Africa'”, a campaign being coordinated by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) with the support of the State of the Union (SOTU) aimed at integrating African countries on issues concerning the ratification, domestication and implementation of key African Union (AU) conventions and legal instruments.
He recalled the day management of University of Nigeria, Nsukka in Enugu State felt embarrassed by the decision of the ICPC Chairman to commence his Inaugural Lecture at the scheduled time before the arrival of the State governor.
“We, in the ICPC, have zero tolerance for the so-called African time. Youths should do everything to discourage delay of time because it is the number one corruption. When you steal time, it is corruption. ICPC is very serious on time management. Let us value time. It is important to underline this principle,” he added.
Speaking on the level of adoption of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (2003), Alhaji Salami lamented the discovery during a session he attended in Arusha, Tanzania that only 34 out of 54 nations in Africa had ratified convention on corruption.
He also regretted that some of the 34 countries which ratified the convention had not done the basic requirements, expressing the readiness of the ICPC to collaborate with all civil liberty organizations (CLOs).
Addressing the concern raised by students at the event, Mr Salami said the ICPC had been tackling cases of sexual harassment and examination malpractices in schools, seeking the support of all stakeholders through the provision of credible information that would assist the agency in tackling corruption.
“We have collaborated with the National University Commission (NUC). We have closed down illegal degree-awarding universities,” he added.
Giving an overview of the campaign, Mr Okeke Anya, Project Coordinator SOTU Nigeria, said the CSOs were currently working on 14 legal instruments, saying the success of the campaign would address issues such as visa restrictions in Africa and Nigeria would relate with other African countries for the benefit of all.
Highlights of the occasion was the message by the campaign’s National Champion Mr Ejike Asiegbu and pledge taking by the participants.
Government organs and institutions, including Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Human Rights Commission (NHCR), National Assembly, National Orientation Agency (NOA), and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as well as secondary schools and tertiary institutions were represented at the launch.