Head of Service charges anti-corruption units to sanitize civil service

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By Emmanuel Obisue

With a view to strengthening transparency and accountability, in the execution of government policies and functions, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, has urged Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units, ACTUs across ministries and agencies to demonstrate unwavering commitment to the fight against corruption in the Civil Service.

Dr Yemi-Esan, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Common Service Office, Ahaji Yusuf Idris, made the call during the inauguration of a repositioned Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit in the OHCSF on Thursday.

She stated that the fight against corruption remains a top priority of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that there is the need to make deliberate efforts to strengthen anti-corruption reforms in the various Ministries, extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies, MDAs.

While recognising the strategic role of ACTUs, in the MDAs, she stressed that this was borne out of government’s desire to change the narrative and make concerted efforts at identifying and closing existing gaps in the Anti-Corruption Initiative.

Dr Yemi-Esan, further said that there is the need for unwavering commitment and diligent pursuit of policies that seek to promote transparency, accountability, while discouraging, as well as sanctioning all forms of corrupt tendencies amongst Civil Servants.

In his address, Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, said the establishment of ACTUs in MDAs is underpinned by the fundamental belief that the Public Service, being the channel through which government policies and programmes are implemented, must live up to expectations by discharging, efficiently and effectively.

The ICPC boss who was represented by Dr Louis Mandama, also disclosed that ACTU was set up as an in-house check mechanism to assist management of MDAs in corruption prevention and entrenching ethical principles within their organisations.

He added that the Commission, since the establishment of ACTUs, used to enjoy robust collaboration with the OHCSF on the oversight of ACTU operations, particularly, and in the issuance of relevant circulars such as funding and inclusion of ACTU members in relevant committees, posting of Heads of ACTU to respective MDAs, conducting advocacy visits, as well as holding peer review sessions.

He asked ACTUs to maximise their potentials, while calling on the OHCSF to set up a Committee to assist the ICPC in enforcing MDAs’ compliance on the establishment and operations of ACTU, which, in the long run, will help to improve the image of the Service and the overall fight against corruption in the polity.