By Eze Nkechi
Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has urged members of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units in various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to embody integrity and accountability in their work as anti-corruption champions, setting a high standard for others to follow.
The ICPC Boss stated this on Tuesday during the opening ceremony of the Workshop on “Promoting Accountability and Transparency in MDAs through Effective Budget Tracking” at the Commission’s Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), Keffi, Nasarawa State.
Dr. Aliyu, represented by the Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Clifford Oparaodu noted that combating corruption required a multi-pronged approach hence the need for ACTU members to be above board at all times.
He stressed further that ACTU members are the ears and eyes of the ICPC in their various MDAs hence the need for them to carry out preliminary investigations into petitions; and complaints on corruption received within their organization, enlighten their colleagues and staff on the ills of corruption, implementation of compliance scorecard in their various MDAs and conducting of system study and Review, as well as corruption risk assessment within their MDAs.
The ICPC Chairman stressed the need for ACTU members to engage in discussions, exchange ideas, share experiences, and rub minds to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills needed for effective tracking of budget implementation in their various MDAs.
According to him, the importance of a transparent and accountable budgetary process in the public service cannot be overemphasized adding that the Commission has conducted analyses of the national budget to excavate corrupt practices embedded within it and these analyses have guided the Commission’s Constituency and Executive Projects Monitoring and Tracking exercise.
These exercises, he `noted, had helped in the suspension of releases of fraudulent allocations and the development of strategic anti-corruption advisory to policymakers, stressing that the Commission had recovered several billions of naira to the coffers of the Federal Government.
He further urged, the ACTU members to work alongside the Commission, as a unified force against corruption and engender the much-needed national development.
On his part, the Provost of the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), Professor Olatunde Babawale, told the participants that the Academy organizes two workshops annually, for members of ACTUs; one in June and the other in November. He said that the training was designed to help in the continuous capacity of ACTU in tackling corruption in their respective Organisations.
He further said that the Academy is guided by the conviction that corruption and related crimes can be controlled and managed through a system of training and re-training which will produce sound anti-corruption policies, operational efficiency, and good management culture.
He added, that the workshop offers an opportunity for the participants to develop their capacity and sharpen their skills to identify sharp practices in the budgetary process in their MDAs.
