The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) today, Thursday 12th February 2026, inaugurated the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Dawanau, Kano, in a strategic move that signals a decisive shift from reactive law enforcement to preventive anti-corruption architecture within Nigeria’s public health sector.
By embedding oversight structures within the hospital, the Commission seeks to cultivate a culture of compliance, deter malfeasance before it occurs, and transform public officers into custodians of ethical governance, recognising that corruption is not solely a crime of opportunity but often one of systemic failure requiring institutional renewal rather than sanctions alone.
In his welcome address, the Director of Administration, Mr Mohammed Suleiman, commended the ICPC’s sustained commitment to entrenching accountability in public institutions and noted that since the hospital’s transition from state to federal control two years ago, it has undergone robust financial and administrative restructuring to enhance transparency and minimise corruption risks.
He affirmed that the inauguration of the ACTU would greatly reinforce ethical compliance within the organisation and consolidate the gains already recorded under federal administration.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner for Kano and Jigawa offices, Ahmed Muhammad Wada, Esq., described ACTU members as strategically placed sentinels with intimate knowledge of the institution’s internal processes. “You are our eyes,” Wada declared, charging the Unit to exercise oversight by scrutinising administrative procedures, identifying corruption-prone practices, and recommending corrective measures where necessary.
He emphasised that the ACTU model empowers internal stakeholders with the tools and mandate to identify vulnerabilities and recommend systemic reforms at the point of service delivery.
The Medical Director, Dr Auwalu Sani Salihu, expressed profound appreciation to the Commission for honouring the hospital’s invitation to establish the unit and assured stakeholders of management’s unwavering commitment to transparent and accountable administration. He noted that in an era where public trust in healthcare institutions is both vital and fragile, this intervention reaffirms the ICPC’s resolve to defend the common good and strengthen the ethical foundations of public healthcare delivery.
The oath of office was administered by Fatima Rabi’u Musa, Esq., officially ushering the newly inaugurated members into their oversight responsibilities, after which the heads of Investigation and System Study and Review units facilitated a sensitisation lecture on preliminary investigation techniques, standing orders, and system study and review procedures. Participants were equipped with practical tools to detect systemic vulnerabilities and enforce compliance without compromising the hospital’s administrative efficiency.
The inauguration concluded with a renewed commitment from both the ICPC and hospital management to deepen collaboration in the areas of system study, preventive oversight, and institutional capacity building, with the shared goal of transforming public institutions into models of integrity and accountability in line with the provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.