In order to boost the efficiency of its anti-corruption campaign, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) recently inaugurated the reconstituted its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU).
The inauguration was combined with a short induction workshop for the new members to equip them with requisite knowledge that would assist them in performing their duties.
The representative of the Chairman of ICPC, Mr. Justin Kuatsea, Assistant Commissioner, Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Department (CMED), in his goodwill message, said the event would go a long way in showcasing ICPC’s determination to fight corruption through the support of stakeholders.
Mr. Kuatsea noted that ACTU was one of the preventive machinery of ICPC established through the support of the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to fight corruption in Nigeria.
According to him “The ACTU is indeed a veritable tool designed by ICPC in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to actualise the Commission’s mandate of prohibiting and preventing corruption by serving as an in-house check mechanism which monitors, identifies and addresses corrupt practices and related offences which are prevalent in government establishments”.
He urged members of the unit to use the opportunity to showcase high ethical standards and integrity in the discharge of their duties and in service to the nation.
Speaking at the event, the ACTU Chairman of the ministry, Mr. Ibrahim M. Mshelbwala said it was necessary to reconstitute the unit because some of the members had been redeployed to other states and ministries and there was a need to replace them.
As part of the efforts to prepare the new members of the ACTU for the task given to them, a brief induction was done by Mr. Kuatsea. He spoke on the functions of the unit as contained in the Standing Order, a booklet that provides guidelines for ACTU members.
He further said that as the representative of ICPC in the ministry, ACTU members have the power to investigate corrupt practices; conduct system study and review; enlighten and educate staff on and against corruption; and also enlist the support of stakeholders in the fight against corruption but that they do not have the power to prosecute corrupt persons.
The Director, Special Duties of the Ministry, Mr. Udoidiong Victor urged members of the ACTU to see the task given them as an opportunity to build their career by living exemplary lives and not using their position to witch-hunt other members of staff.
In his vote of thanks, the Secretary of the ACTU, Mr. Soraiye Victor commended ICPC for the establishment of ACTU and the short induction given to them and also promised on behalf of his colleagues that they would do their best to use the unit to move the ministry forward.