The 2nd Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Chairman League Management Company of Nigeria (LMC) Mal. Shehu Dikko, has disclosed that the establishment of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) of NFF was in line with the transparency initiative of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).
He made the disclosure at the inauguration and induction ceremony of ACTU members of NFF which was conducted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) at the NFF secretariat in Abuja recently.
Mal. Dikko expressed optimism towards the establishment of the unit which he said would ensure integrity of football administration in Nigeria. According to him “The integrity of football administration has been a major source of concern the world over, this is why we feel very excited to have an anti-corruption unit established in the NFF.”
Earlier in his opening remark, the NFF President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, had informed the gathering that the essence of the NFF ACTU was to prevent unethical practices before they become stumbling blocks to football administration in Nigeria.
Mr. Pinnick who was represented at the occasion by NFF Secretary-General, Dr. Muhammad Sanusi, expressed satisfaction with the immediate response of ICPC to their request for the establishment of an anti-corruption unit at the NFF.
In his remarks the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Musa Usman Abubakar, who was represented at the occasion by Mr. Ota Okorie an Assistant Director, reminded the NFF of the crucial role football plays in promoting unity in Nigeria. Dr. Musa, further emphasized that a body such as NFF was expected to operate with strict adherence to ethics and in compliance with core values of the work place, in order to curb corruption in football administration in the country.
The newly sworn-in ACTU Chairman, Barrister Okey Obi, Assistant Director, Legal, NFF, on behalf of other members of the unit, expressed his appreciation to ICPC and the NFF management for finding them worthy to serve after being vetted by the Commission. He gave the assurance that his team would strive to achieve their mandate of a corruption-free NFF.