‘Play by the rules’ — ICPC inaugurates state house anti-corruption unit

Tijjani Umar, state house permanent secretary, has urged members of the state house anti-corruption and transparency unit to show intergrity in the course of their official assignment.

Speaking on Thursday at the inauguration of the unit by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Umar said the state house will not hesitate to make an example of anyone who operates outside the rules.

“We expect that the ACTU State House team that is being inaugurated today will not betray our trust and confidence. Otherwise, we shall be compelled to make an example of you in the event of any erring behaviour. I think that’s where we start from today,” he said.

“On our part, the management will lead by example. We are making this commitment today and hold ourselves to high standards of behaviour, so that ACTU doesn’t have to worry itself about looking at the side of management.”

The permanent secretary congratulated the members of the unit, saying they were specifically chosen out of the staff of the state house based on their integrity and overall effort in their service delivery.

He added that he expected them to “assist the institution to conform by way of continuous advocacy, reporting and where necessary, enforcement and sanction”.

“The subject of good governance is a straightforward one and it’s all about playing the game by the rules. For me, that’s the bottom line. Government activities are governed by rules and at entry point, every one of us around this table was given basic training,” he added.

“That includes understanding the public service rules, as well as the financial regulations, and every one of us ought to, and is expected to, apply the rules and be guided by them in all our transactions.”

In his remarks, the chairman of ICPC who was represented by Abbia Udofia, ICPC director, system studies, said the creation of ACTUs in ministries, departments and agencies, was initiated by the commission in collaboration with the office of the head of civil service of the federation (OHCSF) in 2001 as part of measures to monitor, identify and address lapses in the operational systems of government establishments.

“The inauguration of the state house ACTU is a further testament and commitment of the state house management to being at the forefront of driving the broader anti-corruption initiatives of the federal government,” he stated.

The seven newly inaugurated members who cut across departments of the state house include Gaji Muhammed Usman, chairman, admin department; Hadiza Haruna-Tanko, finance and account; Ubi Sunday, procurement, and Ayoola Olurin, state house clinic.

Others are Omezi Onyema, finance and account; Hadiza Musa, office of the vice president, and Usman Mohammed, maintenance.