By Nkechi Eze
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has identified weak procurement practices, inadequate project supervision, ineffective internal controls and financial mismanagement as major threats to investments by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, raised the concerns while declaring open a two-day Organisational Integrity Management Capacity-Building Programme for officials of TETFund beneficiary institutions in Abuja.
According to an official statement signed by J. Okor Odey, Head of Media and Public Communications, ICPC, the programme was organised by the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), the Commission’s training and research arm, with support from TETFund.
Aliyu warned that without effective institutional controls, transparency and accountability, corruption-related practices could undermine the objectives of investments in the education sector.
He stressed that the impact of TETFund interventions depended not only on the availability of funds but also on the integrity and accountability demonstrated by institutions in managing the resources entrusted to them.
“Integrity must not exist merely in policy documents or institutional mission statements. It must be reflected in everyday decisions, administrative processes, and the management of public resources,” he stated.
The ICPC chairman urged heads of tertiary institutions to demonstrate ethical leadership, enforce established procedures and establish appropriate channels through which staff and other stakeholders could report misconduct without fear of retaliation.
He also called for the institutionalisation of corruption risk assessments, improved documentation, segregation of duties, independent verification of projects and stronger reporting and response mechanisms.
Aliyu further challenged participating institutions to develop specific integrity measures, designate responsible officers, establish implementation timelines and introduce measurable indicators to monitor progress.
“The success of this initiative should be measured not merely by attendance or participation, but by the improvements introduced in your respective institutions,” he said.
He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to preventing corruption through System Study and Review, Corruption Risk Assessment, the Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard and capacity-building programmes delivered through ACAN.
Also speaking, the Provost of ACAN, Professor Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, said integrity in tertiary education must extend beyond institutional leadership to academic staff, non-academic personnel and students.
He identified honesty, accountability and fairness as essential principles for building trust and sustaining ethical standards in educational institutions.
Ibrahim urged tertiary institutions to collaborate with the ICPC in tackling administrative corruption, embezzlement, examination misconduct, monetisation of marks, sexual harassment and the existence of ghost workers.
He commended TETFund for supporting the programme, noting that the initiative provided an opportunity to strengthen governance and promote ethical practices across the education sector.
Similarly, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, PhD, represented by the Director of Human Resources and General Administration, Dr Kolapo Okunlola, maintained that funding alone could not guarantee results without accountable leadership, effective implementation and strict adherence to established standards.
He urged institutional leaders to comply with procurement laws, financial regulations and TETFund guidelines, take responsibility for project outcomes and protect individuals who report misconduct.
Echono reaffirmed TETFund’s commitment to transparency and accountability, urging participants to identify institutional vulnerabilities and apply lessons from the programme to strengthen governance in their respective institutions.
He added that the impact of TETFund interventions should be measured by the integrity of their management and the improvements they deliver in educational infrastructure, research and learning.
