The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission have inaugurated a six-man Anti-corruption and Transparency Unit Committee.
The committee was inaugurated at the Nigerian Content Tower in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.
The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Simbi Wabote, commended the Chairman of ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owansanoye, SAN, for sustaining the initiative of extending the anti-corruption and transparency crusade to ministries, departments and agencies by creating the ACTUs in each organisation.
He said the creation of ACTUs in MDAs had helped to educate and enlighten civil and public servants about the ills of corruption, while also empowering them by creating a channel for whistleblowing on corrupt practices.
“ACTU will help to further deepen our level of compliance and conformity with the laid down ethical standards of transparency and accountability among others,” Wabote said.
He noted that ACTU was established to serve as an institutional ethics and anti-corruption instrument that would operate as an autonomous body and help in the fight against corruption and corrupt practices across MDAs.
“I am aware that the fight against corruption is not a sprint, rather, it is one that will need to be pushed with constant vigor and unwavering determination for its benefit to be realised,” he added.
The NCDMB boss urged the management and staff of the board to give their full support to the ACTU as they execute their assigned tasks of preventing corruption at the board.
He assured members of the agency of his total support and that of the management to enable them carry out their duties without inhibitions.
The Chairman, ICPC, who was represented by the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner for Rivers State, Mrs. Ekere Usiere, explained that the main duties of ACTU were to undertake system study and review of corrupt prone processes and procedures, as well as educate and enlighten staff on ant- corruption.
“The unit is also expected to undertake preliminary investigations where petitions are received and to develop a code of ethics for compliance by staff, among other functions,” she said.
Usiere implored the newly inducted members not to use their position to witch-hunt or victimise anyone but to work closely with management and staff to entrench a culture of discipline and accountability.
