THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has called on state governments to replicate the anti-corruption efforts of Kano State.

Prof. Shola Akinrinade, the Provost, Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), made the appeal on Friday in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

The News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) reports that ACAN is the research and training arm of the ICPC.

Akinrinade said the ongoing anti-corruption crusade being spearheaded by the Federal Government required the buy-in of all stakeholders in the Nigerian project to succeed.

He spoke at the closing ceremony of a five-day anti-corruption, intelligence gathering and investigative skills development training conducted by ACAN for 35 officials of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC).

The provost lauded the Gov. Abdullai Ganduje administration in Kano for setting up PCACC, which is currently the only state anti-graft agency in the country.

“Acts of corruption are not limited to the federal level, because it is a feature of government at every level, and there is only so much that the federal government can do.

“Stakeholders in the national project must buy into the process through such initiatives as this,’’ he said.

Akinrinade also commended the leadership of PCACC for its commitment to the capacity development of its staff to empower them to perform their duties as corruption fighters.

The ACAN provost stressed the need for regular capacity development of anti-corruption agents given the highly dynamic nature of the war against graft.

He emphasised the need for regular capacity development of anti-corruption agents to put them ahead of criminals “who continue to engage in diverse strategies to beat the law’’.

While commending the participants for successfully undergoing the training, the provost noted that the programme could only be meaningful when reflected in the performance of their official duties back home.

“I do hope we can count on you to make the quality difference in investigating and bringing justice to every act of corruption brought to you attention,’’ he charged the participants.

The Chairman of PCACC, Mr Muhuyi Rimingado, noted that significant impact could only be made in the fight against corruption only when states were encouraged to actively participate.

Rimingado said PCACC was conscious of the importance of capacity development of anti-corruption agencies in the fight, hence the series of trainings for its staff for optimum performance.

“One of the challenges I met on assumption of duty at the commission was shortage of manpower in both quality and quantity.

“This is why we made capacity building one of our cardinal objectives because it is only when you build the capacity of people that you can get a better outcome.

“This is the third training that the staff of PCACC have undergone; we had one at the ICPC, one conducted by the EFCC and the police, and now this sponsored by a donor organisation,’’ the chairman said.

He lauded the academy and ICPC for supporting his commission to effectively deliver on its mandate, and the Ganduje administration for the political will to tackle the monster.

Highpoint of the event was the presentation of certificates to 23 of the participants who met the requirements for certification. (NAN)

– Aug. 10, 2018 @ 18:35 GMT |