The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has charged staff of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology on the critical role of behavioural change in combatting corruption in the workplace.
The ICPC Chairman, who was represented at the event by an Assistant Director with the ICPC, Dr. Anike Adeshina, gave the charge at the Annual Staff Sensitization Workshop organized by the Ministry on the imperatives of behavioural change approach in the workplace.
He further stated that the Commission was mindful of the gains inherent in the continuous in-house sensitization programmes, especially as it concerns behavioural change approach for controlling corrupt practices in the workplace. He also revealed that communicating anti-corruption messages provides for better understanding of what constitutes corrupt practices in the workplace.
The ICPC Chairman expressed the Commission’s optimism that events such as staff sensitization workshop, will add up to fostering support for the nation’s anti-corruption drive and further propel positive behavioural change on and against corrupt practices.
In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Mrs. Esuabana Nko Asanye, who was represented by the Director Human Resources Management, Mr. Hassan Baba Ibrahim, stated that the theme of the workshop ‘Strategies of Combatting Corruption in Workplace’ was in line with the Ministry’s determination to put in place good governance models derived from various parts of the world in order to be free from corrupt practices, especially as it is bedeviling our dear nation.
He further stated that he was hopeful that with collective efforts in the fight against corruption and corrupt practices would be reduced to the barest minimum within the public sector and the nation at large.
The Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) in the Ministry, Mrs. Stella Igwilo while expressing her gratitude to the ICPC and the management of the Ministry for supporting the programme, she noted that the fight against corruption in the public sector must begin with attitudinal change and a new commitment to personal responsibility by each member of the staff.
The sensitization workshop which took place at Nanet Suites, Abuja, had anti-corruption lectures delivered by ICPC resource persons that largely dwelt on fostering preventive strategies of corrupt practices in the workplace.