Acting Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Alhaji Abdullahi Bako, has urged members of professional bodies to always uphold their professional codes of ethics no matter the circumstance.
Bako made this call recently at a one-day Colloquium of Business Management Organizations (BMOs) and Professional Associations (PAs) which was organized by ICPC at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The Colloquium, which was aimed at providing workable solutions to the fight against corruption had in attendance, members of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), and National Union of Journalists (NUJ). Also in attendance were National Institute of Management (NIM) and Institute of Fraud Examiners (IFE), Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria ( ESVARBON).
He stressed that upholding professional codes of ethics by practitioners would be one of the panaceas to corruption if it was given its pride of place in the anti-corruption fight.
His words: “Once that is done corrupt practices such as bribery, gratification quackery and other infractions in operations of professional associations would drastically reduce”.
Speaking on the aim of the Colloquium, he said it was to identify areas of partnership between the Commission on one hand and BMOs and PAs on the other towards ensuring that activities of professional bodies were conducted with a high sense of integrity and in adherence to ethical standards so as to prevent corruption.
The Secretary to the Commission, Dr. Musa Usman Abubakar, who also spoke at the Colloquium revealed that ICPC is seeking to build the capacity of private and public sector institutions in line with international best practices to ensure professionals discharge their mandates with high moral standards.
Dr Abubakar, who was represented by the Director, Administration Department, ICPC, Mr GN Bako, also noted that an approach which is collective and strategic was needed to achieve greater success in the anti-corruption campaign, explaining that anti-corruption fight should not be about investigation and prosecution only.
According to him, “The best and most effective way is prevention, by ensuring that our systems work in line with best practices. It is in line with this belief that we are here, trying to ensure that adherence to best practices as stipulated in your codes of ethics, will be a preventive tool against corruption besides exploring other areas of collaboration.”