The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta has tasked civil servants to join anti-graft agencies in the fight against corruption.
Mr. Nta who was represented by Mr. Justin Kuatsea of the Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Department (CMED) of ICPC gave the charge to staff of the Ministry of Water Resources during the inauguration ceremony of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) of the ministry.
He told the ACTU members to embrace the fight against corruption being a select few chosen by the Commission to ensure that corruption is reduced to the barest minimum in the ministry.
His words: “To the newly constituted members of the ACTU of this ministry, may I congratulate you all for being found worthy to serve your country in this capacity. You constitute a microcosm of ICPC, and you should note that the job before you is quite enormous and tasking, and it is one that requires the attributes of sincerity, sacrifice and dedication to duty.”
The ICPC Chairman called on them not to use the ACTU as a witch-hunting or victimization tool against other staff, while also charging the management of the ministry to support the unit to help it actualize its mandate.
“I urge you to work closely with the management in entrenching a culture of discipline and accountability within the office and not to use your position to witch-hunt or victimize anybody. The Commission also strongly enjoins respective heads of department of the ministry to give unwavering support and cooperation to the unit for them to be effective and succeed in their assigned duties,” he added.
Earlier in her address, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta said that the ministry was ready to partner with the Commission to curb corruption in Nigeria.
She assured that the management would provide all the necessary support to the ACTU to make it function properly without any inhibition.
Speaking on behalf of the members, the Chairman of the ACTU, Mr. Elijah Aderibigbe assured that the unit was totally committed to the fight against corruption in the ministry.