In a decisive move to fortify transparency and accountability within public institutions, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on recently re-inaugurated the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) headquarters in Port Harcourt.
The ceremony, which convened NDDC management and staff, officials from the ICPC Rivers State Office, and both outgoing and incoming ACTU members, underscored the Commission’s unwavering commitment to embedding ethical governance across Nigeria’s public sector.
In his valedictory address, the outgoing ACTU Chairman and Director of Legal Services at NDDC, Mr Victor Arenyeka, expressed profound gratitude to the ICPC team, NDDC management, directors, and staff for their steadfast support throughout his tenure.
Reflecting on the Unit’s accomplishments, Arenyeka remarked: “Serving as Chairman of this Unit has been both an honour and a privilege. Throughout our tenure, we worked diligently to strengthen awareness of ethical values, encourage compliance with established procedures, promote a culture of honesty, and reinforce the principle that corruption in any form undermines institutional growth and public trust.”
He paid tribute to the NDDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, PhD, acknowledging that his visionary leadership provided the essential foundation upon which the ACTU recorded significant milestones.
Representing the Managing Director, the Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, Esq., DSSRS, warmly welcomed the ICPC delegation and commended the Commission for its relentless crusade against corruption in Nigeria.
Describing the newly appointed ACTU members as individuals of proven integrity, Iyaye assured the ICPC of the NDDC’s full backing to enable the Unit to discharge its responsibilities effectively. He urged the members to serve as custodians of anti-corruption values and to ensure that corrupt practices are reduced to the barest minimum within the Commission.
A defining moment of the ceremony was the swearing-in of the newly inaugurated ACTU members, administered by the Head of the Legal Unit, ICPC Rivers State Office, Barr. Evans Peters.
Before administering the oath, Peters emphasised its profound significance, noting that it symbolised the members’ solemn commitment to uphold integrity, execute their duties in alignment with the Commission’s mandate, and serve as ethical ambassadors within the NDDC.
Delivering the goodwill message of the ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner (RACC) for Rivers and Bayelsa States, Mrs Ekere Usiere, PhD, reiterated that the ACTU remains one of the Commission’s most effective preventive strategies for combating corruption at its roots.
The ICPC Chairman further stressed that the re-inauguration of the ACTU at the NDDC reflects the Commission’s continued dedication to strengthening integrity systems across public institutions. Beyond enforcement, she noted, the ICPC continues to champion preventive measures, ethical reorientation, capacity building, and institutional reforms aimed at fostering a culture of transparency and accountability nationwide.
In her acceptance remarks, the newly inaugurated ACTU Chairperson, Deinma Ebong, Esq., expressed gratitude to the ICPC for entrusting her and the other members with this critical responsibility. She affirmed the Unit’s commitment to working collaboratively to promote ethical conduct within the NDDC, strengthen internal integrity systems, and proactively identify and address practices that could undermine transparency and accountability.
To augment the Unit’s capacity for effective service delivery, the newly inaugurated ACTU members underwent comprehensive training on preliminary investigation procedures and were sensitised on the provisions of the ACTU Standing Order. This capacity-building session reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to equipping Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units with the knowledge and skills required to effectively promote integrity and accountability within public institutions.
The re-inauguration of the ACTU at the NDDC marks another significant milestone in the ICPC’s sustained efforts to institutionalise transparency, accountability, and ethical governance across Nigeria’s public sector. By strengthening preventive mechanisms such as the ACTU, the Commission continues to advance a proactive approach to combating corruption, empowering public institutions to safeguard public resources, uphold ethical standards, and reinforce citizens’ confidence in governance.