The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has charged staff of the Federal Ministry of Finance to utilise anti-corruption tools and strategies to achieve a corruption free environment in management of public finance and driving the economic development of Nigeria.
The charge was given by Mr. Hassan Salihu, an Assistant Commissioner of the Commission at a one-day Sensitisation Workshop recently held in Abuja.
He stressed that the anti-corruption tools and strategies were capable of providing a working environment, free from corrupt practices and other related offences.
Salihu further stated that “A corruption-free environment could only be achieved through a system or institution with the anti-corruption tools and strategies capable fighting corrupt practices and other related offences”.
The ICPC Resource Person further stated that anti-corruption tools that are legislative, investigative, technological, social, institutional and international have the potency of creating corruption-free environment in the management of public finance and economic development of Nigeria.
He added that “The anti-corruption strategies to achieving corruption-free environment in the Ministry of Finance are Preventive: Measures to prevent corruption from occurring; Detective strategies: Methods to identify and investigate corruption; Corrective strategies: Actions to address and punish corruption; Institutional strategies: Reforms to strengthen institutions; Social strategies: Community engagement and awareness campaigns.’’
In her opening remarks, Director of Special Duties, Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Oluwayemisi Egundebi welcomed the participants on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, while emphasing that corruption was a challenge that threatened the core of productivity and the trust placed in their hands.
Mrs. Egundebi stated that “The goal of the workshop is to explore tools and strategies that empower public servants to address corruption in their daily operations. Thus, I encourage participants to engage deeply so as to gain practical insights to strengthen the fight against corruption”.
Also giving a remark at the event was the ACTU desk officer, Mr. Olu Osanatu, explained that the ICPC through the Chairman, pledged to stop corruption before it even starts to block leakages hence the need for an active ACTU unit at the MDAs.