The National Metallurgical Development Centre, Jos, has collaborated with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to ensure decency in the administration of public funds and resources, a statement from the Centre has said.
The statement, which was signed by the Head, Press and Public Relations, NMDC, Sunny Eweama, said the collaboration, which was established by the recent inauguration of a seven-man committee of ICPC’s Anti Corruption and Transparency Unit at the NMDC, Jos, aims to ensure prudence and transparency in the management of public funds and resources.
According to the statement, the Director General, NMDC, Prof Linus Asuquo who welcomed the development, highlighted the need for all inclusive effort in the fight against corruption.
The Director General who welcomed the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Prof Bolaji Owasanoye who was represented by the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, ICPC, Benue State Office, Mr. Menge Tiku lamented the adverse effect of corruption on the Nigerian economy since independence, stating that after “Nigeria got political independence, the fight against corruption has been very conspicuous in the blue prints of successive administrations.”
Pro Asuquo pointed out that the bane of military thwarting the democratic government of first and second republics were not unconnected to corruption.
He said despite humongous financial resources injected by both successive military and democratic governments to fight corruption, no lasting therapy has been administered to cure the plague.
Prof Asuquo commended the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo for establishing a statutory organization – the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) with mandate to prohibit and prescribe punishment for corrupt practices and other related offences as stated in the ICPC Establishment Act of Year 2000.
Asuquo applauded the present administration of President Mohammadu Buhari for its relentless effort in reducing to the barest minimum, wastages in public funds through the establishment of Efficiency Unit, Presidential Continuous Audit, (PICA) Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Cash Management Office among others.
He said the measures are frantic efforts of the present administration to curb and possibly eradicate corruption and block leakages in public sphere.
The NMDC Boss said that for any meaningful development to take place in any country, all hands should be on deck to defeat the ‘parasitic monster’ called corruption.
Engr Prof Asuquo also commended the Management of the ICPC for domesticating the Commission in MDAs through the establishment of Anti Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTU). He challenged the members of the ACTU Committee to discharge their duties with diligence, probity and passion.
The NMDC helmsman explained that as a Research and Development Centre, the NMDC is charged with the responsibility of adding value to all minerals and metals in Nigeria, stating that it will leave no stone unturned to ensure that corruption has no hiding place at the Centre.
Representative of the Chairman, ICPC, Mr Menge Tiku, thanked the Director-General for his passion to fight corruption and for providing conducive office and logistics for ACTU Committee Members in NMDC.
Tiku said that though the fight against corruption has been an age-long one, the fight could only be won totally if it starts from families to public institutions.
The Representative of the Chairman, ICPC, while administering the Oat of Office to the Seven man Committee of ACTU in NMDC, with Mr. Bulus Ewa as the Chairman while Mr. Bala Bosan as Secretary, reminded them of the efficacy of Oath taking for public offices.
He reminded them of the need to synergize with the Zonal office for updated information that will aid them in the discharge of their duties.
The Team leader reiterated the need for the members of the committee to carry out their duties thorough investigation and always reports facts beyond reasonable doubt.
