The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Amb. Nicholas Agbo Ella has inaugurated the newly nominated members of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU).
He charged them to conduct their duties with integrity, impartiality and transparency, resisting undue influence and upholding accountability principles.
The Permanent Secretary gave the charge in his opening remarks at the inauguration and induction of the newly nominated members of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources on Tuesday in Abuja.
Amb. Ella emphasized that establishing ACTU within the Ministry is a deliberate effort to instil a culture of zero tolerance for corruption, going beyond statutory requirements.
‘As a Ministry that plays a critical role in the management and stewardship of Nigeria’s Petroleum Resources, we are uniquely positioned to set a standard for good governance, ethical conduct and transparency,’ the Permanent Secretary said.
He encouraged ACTU m
embers to play a pivotal role in promoting transparency and integrity within the Ministry.
Ella pointed out that corruption is a significant impediment to national development as it can lead to the misallocation of resources, deter investments hamper the sector’s contribution to economic growth and deprive citizens of their rights to essential services and infrastructure.
The Permanent Secretary therefore emphasised that ACTU will serve as the watchdog within the Ministry, ensuring that all the processes, decisions and actions are conducted with integrity and by the law.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) represented by the Director of the System Study and Review Department in the Commission, Olusegun Adigun said that the creation of ACTU in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) was initiated by the ICPC in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and approved by the
Federal Executive Council in 2001 to serve as an in-house check mechanism in ensuring good governance and prevention of corruption and unethical practices in MDAs.
He therefore encouraged the management of MPR to create an enabling environment for the ACTU to thrive in the Ministry.
The Deputy Director of the Midstream Department and the ACTU Chairman in the Ministry, Okon Emmanuel, who spoke on behalf of other members, appreciated the confidence reposed on them to steer the affairs of ACTU in the Ministry and called for necessary support in the delivery of their assigned mandates
Members of the newly inaugurated ACTU were nominated from various Departments and Units in the Ministry.
The newly inaugurated ACTU has the responsibility of raising awareness amongst staff about the importance of ethical behaviour and providing guidance on issues relating to transparency and integrity.
Source: Voice of Nigeria