The Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, has charged the staff and management of the Petroleum Equalization Fund(Management) Board (PEF(M) B), to always exhibit high levels of transparency, accountability, professionalism, and discipline in all their undertakings.
Prof. Owasanoye, represented by Mr. Aiyegbayo Olayinka of Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Department (CMED) of ICPC, gave the charge during the inauguration of the new members of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) of the agency.
The Chairman noted that PEF(M)B played a vital role in the nation’s economy and that its core mandate of ensuring uniformity in the pricing of petroleum products through bridging of costs to products distributors nationwide could be achieved effectively in an environment of transparency and accountability.
“The inauguration and induction of members of ACTU is indeed a step in the right direction as we move forward to install the building blocks of transparent and accountable systems which are necessary ingredients of achieving a sanitized work environment,” the ICPC boss stressed.
He also told the newly-inaugurated ACTU members to brace up for the task ahead, saying that the idea behind the ACTU initiative was not to displace or challenge the authority of Management in running the affairs of their organisation, rather, it was to complement them especially in the areas of discipline, order and due process where they might be lacking.
Professor Owasanoye enjoined the new ACTU members “To live above board, show sterling examples and live up to the expectation of trust reposed in them.”
In his remarks at the event, the Executive Secretary, PEF(M)B, Ahmed A Bobboi, gladly revealed that PEF over the years, had expeditiously complied with the directive of the Federal Government on the establishment of ACTU and this inauguration was a commitment of the Fund’s desire to create a transparent and accountable environment.
He noted that the relationship between PEF(M)B and ICPC had remained very cordial and said he looked forward to more of such a relationship in the years ahead, while affirming his support for the ACTU to carry out its duties without interference from the Management.
“PEF has sponsored its staff to several training organized by the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), the training arm of ICPC, and is proud to inform ICPC that two of our staff were amongst the pioneer graduates of ACAN’s Post-Graduate Certificate in Corruption Prevention,” he added.
In her acceptance speech, the newly inaugurated ACTU chairman Mrs. Henrietta Bobai on behalf of the new members, appreciated the Management of PEF(M)B for “picking them out of many and finding them worthy to serve in such capacity”. She gave assurance that they would discharge their functions diligently.
The ACTU members inaugurated also included: Mustapha Madu, Ibrahim Kanya, Ibrahim Danladi, and Onyinye Onyia-Chigbo.