In a deliberate move to strengthen transparency and ethical standards from within, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) recently organised a sensitisation programme on asset declaration for its officers, in partnership with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
The initiative sought to deepen compliance and accountability among ICPC staff, in line with the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). That provision requires all public servants, including civil servants, political office holders, and other government employees, to declare their assets and liabilities every four years.
The aim is to ensure transparency in public service, promote accountability in the management of public trust, and serve as a preventive mechanism against corruption and illicit enrichment.
Beyond mere compliance, the programme carried a strong institutional message from the Commission’s Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, that accountability as a value must begin from within. Officers entrusted with enforcing anti-corruption laws must themselves be beyond reproach.
In this regard, the exercise represented a deliberate housekeeping effort – ensuring that internal systems and the human element of the fight against corruption remain transparent and credible before any wider enforcement is extended to the public.
The CCB delegation was led by Mr Nwachukwu Ezechukwu, Deputy Superintendent of the Bureau, alongside Mr Solomon Njokwu, Assistant Superintendent. Together, they engaged ICPC staff in a participatory session designed to guide officers through the asset declaration process and eliminate errors.
Welcoming the delegation on behalf of the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner for Imo State, Dr Agwu Amefula, the Deputy Director, Mrs Chinwe Egbeocha, expressed appreciation to the Bureau for its timely intervention; reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to the rule of law, noting that ICPC officers had consistently demonstrated integrity.
“ICPC officers are known for their adherence to legal and ethical standards,” Mrs Egbeocha stated. “We will continue to ensure that all declarations are made accurately and in line with established guidelines.”
The sensitisation session, anchored by Mr Solomon Njokwu, provided a step-by-step guide to completing the asset declaration forms. He emphasised the importance of full disclosure, stressing that all assets and liabilities must be declared, including those belonging to children under the age of 18.
Participants were then given the opportunity to seek clarification during an interactive question-and-answer segment led by Mr Nwachukwu Ezechukwu. The session addressed common concerns and reinforced the need for transparency and accountability in public service.
The programme did more than fulfil a routine compliance exercise; it marked a deliberate reaffirmation of the core values that sustain the fight against corruption. By subjecting its own officers to rigorous standards of transparency, the Commission champions a critical truth: integrity is most powerful when practised internally before it is demanded externally. In doing so, the ICPC continues to set the tone for a new public service – one anchored in accountability, discipline, and trust.