Featured

ICPC Urges Nigerians To Report Corrupt Public Office Holders

Published

5 days ago

May 25, 2023

… says Commission needs citizens’ collaboration

Joel Ajayi

The Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has urged Nigerians to report corrupt individuals in public offices to assist in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

The Commission, which has been educating the public against corruption through implementing the National Ethics and Integrity Policy (NEIP), says citizens remain critical to instilling integrity in society by promptly reporting corrupt acts, especially persons in public office.

ICPC’s Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Alhaji Mohammed Ashiru Baba, made the call during PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, an anti-corruption radio programme produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, Wednesday in Abuja.

Speaking on the operations of the Commission, Baba stressed that “ICPC is not populated by spirits but human beings who need information from the public to tackle corruption.”

“Citizens assume that the government should do it alone. When you discover that somebody has a case in ICPC or EFCC or Code of Conduct Bureau and he’s occupying a position of trust, what do you do? Did you report?

“Let us always be honest. ICPC or EFCC are not populated with spirits. We are not spirits, actually. We said, if you see something, say something. That is what voice and participation is all about.

“When the government is appointing permanent secretaries and other public office holders they send their names to ICPC and we conduct due diligence on them to ensure that they are very clean and they don’t have any skeleton of their cupboard, so to that extent, we participate in ensuring that the round peg is placed in a round hole.

“But if you (citizens) come across any person with cases in ICPC or EFCC yet the person is given a position of trust, please, you all have to report to ICPC immediately. All you need to do is to access our website or various social media platforms and let us know.

“We (ICPC) don’t take kindly to any violation of the core values of the national ethics and integrity policy, especially integrity. Once you take bribes or you give out bribes of gratification, you have violated the core values of the National Ethics and Integrity Policy. It’s not only about punishment. We also have the reward regime to encourage those who uphold integrity,” Baba stated.

He noted that the Commission is working in synergy with other anti-corruption agencies to reduce corruption appreciably, reminding citizens that they are entitled to follow up on the progress of petitions they filed with ICPC rather than become passive or just complain.

Baba revealed that the teaching of integrity and ethics had been completely infused in primary and secondary schools and colleges of education in the country. He added that the Commission had gotten assurances on the further infusion of NEIP in the curriculum of public universities in Nigeria.

“ICPC is prioritizing value rejuvenation, resuscitation and behavioural change amongst Nigerians to reduce corruption using the National Ethics and Integrity Policy.”

He also added that ICPC had enjoyed the support and cooperation of the outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari administration in implementing NEIP and expects the incoming administration to continue in the same vein.

Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio program used by PRIMORG to draw government and citizens’ attention to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.

Share on Facebook

Featured

Sports Minister Hands Over Leadership To Permanent Secretary

Published

8 hours ago

May 30, 2023

The Gleamer

The Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare has handed over the leadership of the Ministry to the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar as the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration ended on Monday.

At the Handing Over Ceremony held today at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, the Minister thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for giving him the opportunity to serve his Fatherland.

He stated that the appointment enabled him to have a better knowledge and understanding of the challenges of governance as well as that of the youth in particular, adding that it also afforded him with the opportunity to look out ways to profer solutions on complex issues in relation to governance.

Dare who stated further that the portfolio also afforded him the avenue to encourage Nigerian youth to take up sports as a career for the socio-economic development of the country, called on them to also support the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration for enhanced development of the sector.

Responding, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar commended Mr. Sunday Dare for his laudable initiatives in the Ministry.

While thanking the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration for creating an enabling environment for the sector to thrive, he pledged the support and cooperation of the staff and Management of the Ministry to the in coming Administration led by President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Share on Facebook