The Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commended the management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) for supporting the Fund’s Anti- Corruption and Transparent Unit (ACTU).
ICPC, therefore, urged NSITF “to identify lapses in the operational system, check unethical practices and sensitize members of staff against corruption.”
According to a statement by Nwachukwu Godson, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, the exhortation came Tuesday from the Chairman of the ICPC, Musa Adamu Aliyu, at the launch of NSITF’s ACTU sensitization campaign at the Scorpion Officers Mess, Wu Bassey Barracks, Asokoro, Abuja.
The ICPC Chairman, who was represented by an officer of the agency, Olusegun Adigun, stated that the ICPC provides a three-pronged approach in fighting corruption.
He said, “Our three-pronged approach includes enforcement, prevention and education and public enlightenment. In giving effect to its preventive mandate, the ICP established the Ant-Corruption and Transparency Unit to serve as an internal regulatory mechanism, to identify lapses in operational systems, check unethical practices, sensitize members of staff against corruption and assist management in building transparent and ethical workforce.
“This sensitization programme again provides the opportunity for management and staff to understand their role in building ethical institutions as well as key into preventive mechanism in tackling the menace of corruption in public service.
“I therefore encourage the ACTU NSITF to continue to work in collaboration with the management and staff to promote an ethical agency.”
In his address at the event, the Managing Director of the NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye applauded the ICPC for its collaboration with the Fund, adding that the anti-corruption campaign was a pivotal step towards reinforcing collective resolve to uphold integrity and transparency.
“The objective is to educate staff and stakeholders on corruption prevention measures, to promote integrity and accountability within the NSITF while our focus areas include transparency in operations, ethical leadership and decision making and collaborating with ICPC to strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms.”
Faleye, who noted that corruption undermines public trust, stunts the growth of organizations and diminishes service delivery, said the NSITF will leave no stone unturned in maintaining transparency standards in all its operations.
Expressing pleasure over the awareness of corruption risks in the agency, he said the Fund will strengthen commitment to accountability through periodic reviews.
Speaking further on corruption prevention, he stated that his organization was working on the digitization of its core processes to minimize lapses associated with manual operations.
“We will also ensure a robust monitoring framework and strengthen the whistleblowing mechanism in the Fund,” he concluded.
In her welcome address, the NSITF’s head of ACTU, Oamen Josephine, explained the role of the unit and dismissed scepticisms about its operations. She said the ant-corruption campaign, though led by her unit, was collective and urged all hands to be on deck.
Also at the event was the Executive Director, Operations, Hon. Mojisolaoluwa Ali-Macaulay and the management staff of the headquarters and Abuja Region while other staff members across the nation joined via Zoom.