Guide your heads against temptations, ICPC chair tells ACTU
The chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu, on Friday charged members of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) in federal government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to guide their heads against falling into temptation.
He said some heads of MDAs fell into financial mess because they lacked proper guidance and direction on due process related to the activities of their offices.
Speaking at the inauguration of new members of ACTU of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority Ilorin, he said the anti-corruption unit was a mini-ICPC team “who are to serve as the eyes and ears of the Commission.”
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The newly inaugurated ACTU team are: Mrs. Grace Obajemu Tosin (chairperson); Alhaja Bilkis Jimoh (secretary); Barrister Mohammed lbrahim (member); Engr. Ashraff Abbas (member); Engr. Odanaogun Charles (member).
Others are Mrs. Oyediji Kemi (member); Dr. Akanbi A. Samul (member); Alhaja Jimoh Bilkis. L. (secretary) and Mr. Mohammed Danjuma I. (member).
Represented by the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner (Kogi/Kwara), Mr. Okoro Ulu, the ICPC boss said the unit was empowered under the law to perform all the activities being carried out by ICPC including preliminary investigation except prosecution.
He said, “ACTU is supposed to be an in-house check mechanism for ICPC, what ACTU does is what ICPC does except prosecution; they conduct preliminary investigation, they conduct enlightenment for staff, they conduct training.
“Those who are supposed to be members of ACTU are those in critical department like Finance and Account, like Procurement, Audit and Admin .The essence is to know what each MDA and ministry is doing and to help the MD, the chairman or chief executive to do his work, to follow due process, to follow procedure, to follow protocol so that he doesn’t fall into temptation.”
In his remarks, Aremu said members of the unit were nominated based on their track records and integrity in line with the authority’s commitment to ensure transparency and due process.
The newly inaugurated ACTU chairman, Mrs. Grace Obajumu, in her remarks, said the unit would not let the staff, management and the ICPC down in the confidence reposed on them, adding that “we will do what we are supposed to do.”
