ICPC Counsels NDDC On Anti-Corruption, Transparency Unit
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been advised to urgently inaugurate an Anti-Corruption, Transparency Unit (ACTU) to assist it in enthroning transparency in the interventionist agency.
Former Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Mrs. Rasidat Okoduwa, gave the advice during a two-day “Sensitisation Workshop for Public Servants in NDDC”, held in Port Harcourt, adding that the unit would strengthen the Commission’s systems to make it work effectively.
As contained in a release by the NDDC Director Corporate Affairs, Dr. Ibitoye Abosede, the theme of the workshop is “Using Anti-Corruption Tools At The Workplace.”
He said: “The purpose of the workshop is to partner the anti-corruption agencies in establishing a structure that can maintain transparency in NDDC especially in this post forensic-audit era of our Commission.”
The former ICPC Director spoke on “The Impact of Anti-corruption, Transparency and Monitoring Unit and System Study and Review (SS-R) in MDAs”.
Okoduwa observed that there was no universal definition for corruption but, however, remarked that the abuse of office for private gain, only situated the problem in an office setting.
She identified some of the drivers of corruption as monopoly of power and larger discretion without transparency, stating that this was a very good recipe for corruption to take place.
As part of measures to check corruption, Okoduwa said organisations needed to reduce procedural complexities and conduct regular corruption risk assessments.
To facilitate this process, she said organisations must have in-house mechanisms for corruption prevention and institutional change, noting that organisations should institute reward systems to discourage corruption.
Okoduwa said ACTU would increase the anti-corruption consciousness among staff through regular sensitisation, suggestion boxes, posters and banners, and setting up of websites to make reporting of corruption easier.
She stressed that ACTUs were change agents in organisations, adding: “To reposition the NDDC top management, it must give unwaning support to ACTU, starting with an official inauguration by the ICPC.”
NDDC Director of Procurement, Mr. Alex Ndudi Enebeli, who represented the Interim Administrator, Dr. Efiong Akwa, said the Commission is laying a foundation to sustain transparency and compliance to Nigeria’s code of conduct rules and regulations.
He said: “We have decided to make the anti-corruption agencies our coaches and allies to help us to get to where we want to be, to strengthen our system and make us more transparent. Since we want to fly, we should associate ourselves with eagles and not chickens.”
Enebeli said that the workshop would ensure that the Commission was better placed to deliver on its mandate, particularly following the forensic audit of its operations from inception.
He said: “This workshop will create a synergy between the Commission and anti-corruption agencies, creating a better and more transparent commission in this post forensic audit era.”
In his own presentation, a resource person from Garden City Premier Business School, Mr. Arimie Biebele, listed the various causes of corruption in public office.
He spoke on “Understanding Public Procurement Corruption,” and identified some of the causes of corruption as greed; weak administration and implementation of government law.
Others, Biebele said, included acceptance of corruption by the populace; poor remuneration and lack of good reward system; poor education and illiteracy and its consequences.
