The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, OFR, has reiterated the need for agencies in the power sector to stand up against corruption, saying that the menace in the sector affects economic development.
The Chairman made this statement when a delegation of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) paid him a courtesy visit at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja today to seek partnership and collaboration among the two agencies.
Professor Owasanoye observed that corruption in the power sector has an adverse effect on national resources through wastages, a scenario that had propelled ICPC to conduct a Systems Study and Review in the sector.
The Commission’s boss expressed the belief that the outcome of the review would help to block loopholes and improve processes and procedures in carrying out their operations.
Responding to the request on partnership, the ICPC Chairman expressed the willingness of the Commission to collaborate and partner with the power agency to ensure that the sector was cleansed of corruption which he said posed as a threat to national development.
Earlier in his remarks, the head of the delegation and representative of the Chairman REA, Mr. Mohammed Badamasi, Board Member representing North Central, said that the visit was aimed at keeping the Commission abreast with their activities and to partner with ICPC to enhance the work of the current administration in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
He further stated that the Agency sought the guidance of the Commission at ensuring that REA was in top shape with regards to the fight against corruption.
Also in his remarks, the MD/CEO of the agency, Engr. Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, commended the Commission for the Systems Study and Review conducted on the REA which has led to the development of their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that would be launched soon, saying that the SOPs would enhance the smooth running of their operations.
He also informed the Commission of some of their services and assured that the partnership with ICPC would help rid the sector of corruption and corrupt practices and thereby help them achieve their objectives.