Defence
INDEPENDENT Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has called on stakeholders to promote policies that will curb corruption and enhance good governance.
The ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, made the appeal in Kaduna on Tuesday at a sensitisation dialogue.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was organised by ICPC, in collaboration with National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Owasanoye highlighted such policies to include: behavioural change, National Ethics and Integrity Policy (NEIP) as well as Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative.
The chairman, represented by an ICPC board member, Alhaji Abdullahi Saidu, recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari launched NEIP in September 2020 to sensitise the public against corruption.
According to him, the efforts are part of the commission’s drive toward the emergence of a new and better Nigeria.
He said that participants at the dialogue were people who played crucial roles in the development of various communities and were, therefore, considered important in the full implementation of ICPC’s projects.
Owasanoye said that in 2021, starting with FCT, the commission engaged all stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil servants on best ways of promote the policy.
“As players in the civil society community, you are leaders tasked with standing as the voice of the voiceless, to call the attention of relevant authorities to the plights of the people in rural communities.
“You are leaders and as such, you all wield great influence in initiating and sustaining behavioural change among the people,” he said.
The ICPC chairman called on stakeholders to deepen their partnership with ICPC in order to tackle corruption and promote ethical values and behavioural change in building a better Nigeria for all.
“As leaders, you have followership; you have influence and command respect. You are expected to use all these to bring about enduring positive behavioural change among the people,’’ he said.
Owasanoye expressed appreciation to the traditional rulers for their fatherly role in ensuring the acceptability of the initiatives.
He also commended the state government for assisting in mobilising the audience as well as supporting the success of the dialogue.
Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmad Bamali, appreciated the ICPC for its commitment to corruption fight, adding that the sensitisation would further aid in fighting the menace.
“As leaders, we are to live by example and this sensitisation will address ICPC’s commitment toward fighting corruption, indiscipline and behavioural change in the society,” he said.
Bamali further said that he was aware of the commission’s project and would continue to be part of it.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chief Affairs, Hajiya Umma Ahmed, assured ICPC of the state government’s continued support toward the success of its mandate.
Ahmed, represented by the Director-General, Bureau of Interfaith Affairs, Mr Tahir Tahir, stressed the need for traditional and religious leaders to sensitise their followers on behavioural change and political and electoral laws to enhance a stronger nation.
Earlier, the Resident Anti-Corruption Commission, ICPC Kaduna office, Prince Hassan Mohammed, said that the programme was aimed at sensitising people on the ownership of government projects executed in their respective constituencies.
Mohammed added that the programme was also targeted at calling the stakeholders’s attention to the need for fighting corruption in public procurement and achieving value for the resources committed to government projects. (NAN)
A.I
Tags: Alhaji Abdullahi Saidu Alhaji Ahmad Bamali Hajiya Umma Ahmed ICPC President Muhammadu Buhari Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye
