The Kogi State office of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) has solicited the support and cooperation of management and staff of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in ensuring that the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) is given the enabling environment to fully carry out its functions.
The ICPC Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner (RACC), Mr. Ulu James Okoro, made the statement at the inauguration of the ACTU team of NIWA recently at its headquarters in Lokoja.
Mr. Okoro expressed appreciation to the management of the agency for making the inauguration and induction of ACTU members a reality, and implored the newly constituted members of the ACTU to work tirelessly to entrench a culture of discipline, integrity, transparency and accountability in their organisation.
The RACC expressed optimism that NIWA will reap the benefits of the positive legacy of zero tolerance to corruption which will diminish incidents of corruption in the agency and in Nigeria at large.
In his address, NIWA Managing Director, Dr. George Moghalu, expressed his gratitude to the RACC for the formal inauguration and induction of its ACTU, noting that ICPC was not primarily created to arrest people but to get them to be conscious of their immediate environment and see what can be done to salvage the country and make it a better place for all.
Dr. Moghalu declared that fighting corruption is a collective responsibility and not limited to only anti-corruption agencies or those holding positions of trust. ‘’Corruption is restrictively understood as having accumulated money solely. It is beyond that. A person can be corrupt with their attitude in a work schedule. For instance, if your work time is to start by 8am and you come by 10am, you are corrupt,’’ he added.
He assured the ICPC team of his cooperation and determination to rid the agency of corruption. and stated that they are ready to vigorously eradicate corrupt acts in NIWA.