The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has called on Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to empower the Anti-Corruption Transparency and Monitoring Unit (ACTU) in their organisations to deliver on its mandate.
This call was made during the inauguration of the ACTU of Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board recently.
In his goodwill message, the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, represented by the Acting Director, System Study and Review Department, Mr. Olusegun Adigun, stated that the creation of ACTU in MDAs was initiated by the Commission in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and was approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2001, to serve as an in-house check mechanism in government agencies against corrupt practices and unethical behaviours.
The ICPC boss frowned at some Heads of MDAs who are not working with their ACTU thereby relegating and reducing the Units to nothing, and informed them that the essence of having ACTU in their agencies was to help identify corruption-prone areas and also checkmate the level of transparency, accountability and integrity while carrying out government businesses, and not to witch-hunt them.
He highlighted the mandates of ACTU to include periodic sensitisation of staff on and against corruption, examination of systems, processes and procedures that are prone to corruption and offering solutions, developing and reviewing code of ethics for staff and ensuring compliance with same and monitoring budget implementation of MDA, etc.
The ICPC Chairman emphasised that “ACTU was not envisioned as a parallel authority to management, rather it is expected to operate under the direct oversight of the Chief Executive, so as to complement the management’s effort in promoting transparency and accountability within the agency.”
He called on Chief Executives and managements to see the Unit in this light and support it by providing a conducive environment for it to function by providing funds and office accommodation as well as incorporating its members into various standing committees as contained in its extant circular.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary (ES) of the Board, Ibrahim Audu Mairiga, commended ICPC for initiating such a wonderful mechanism to ensure and improve the level of transparency and accountability in the public service.
He further stated that, corruption has eaten deep into the public service which has undermined hard work and efficiency in the discharge of its responsibilities adding that, “whatever we can do, we should do as a people to reduce it or end the menace.”
The ES stated that the Unit has the responsibility to support the organization to promote accountability and transparency and to educate their organisation on the need for adherence to rules and regulations adding that if the ACTU has these responsibilities “my burden will be lightened”.
He assured the Commission of effective collaboration with the Unit and ICPC to ensure that corruption does not have a place in the Board.
He called on other Executive Secretaries and Heads of agencies to embrace the Unit with the necessary support to eradicate corruption in their respective agencies.
In her acceptance speech, the ACTU chairperson, Adama Isa, expressed her appreciation to ICPC Chairman and the ES for giving her the opportunity to serve as the head of the Unit.