FCTA sets up anti-corruption unit

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has inaugurated an anti-corruption and transparency unit.

Authorities at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have set up an anti-corruption and transparency unit to “nip any corrupt practice on the bud.”

The FCTA permanent secretary, Anthony Ozodinobi, who inaugurated the unit on Tuesday in Abuja, said the anti-corruption unit is in line with the “zero tolerance to corruption of the President Goodluck Jonathan Transformation Agenda”.

Mr. Ozodinobi said “the on-going trial of those involved in the oil subsidy scam clearly demonstrates the commitment of the administration to transparency and good governance”.

He also warned that the anti-corruption train is “gathering steam and that the era of business as usual is fast fading away”.

The anti-corruption unit consists of Yakubu Ozigis, (Chairman) and Olumuji Peter, (Secretary). Other members include Abubakar Yakubu, Mallam Yajiwa and Alhaji Yakubu.

The terms of reference of the unit, according to the permanent secretary, are “to carry out activities and initiate measures aimed at checking corruption in the FCT Administration, and to liaise with anti-corruption agencies with a view to evolving sustainable ways of eliminating corruption within the FCT Administration.”

Others are “to carry out activities aimed at enlightening and educating FCTA staff on the dimensions, evils and consequences of corrupt practices, as well as prepare and forward to the office of the Permanent Secretary periodic reports on the activities of the team”.

Mr. Ozigis, who responded on behalf of the team, promised to carry out his responsibilities saying that “no stone will be left unturned in carrying out this responsibility”.

Meanwhile Kuatsea Justin, who represented the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practice Commission (ICPC) at the occasion, lauded the FCT Administration for the keen interest shown to fight the fight against corruption.

He revealed that ICPC will soon start the rating of agencies and organizations across the country.

Earlier in the year, the commission had done a systemic review of the FCTA. The review showed the various large scale corruption in the agency and how they were perpetrated. The setting up of the transparency unit by the FCTA is part of the ways the agency is trying to check the corruption inherent in its systems.