The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs on Friday in Abuja established its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit to help checkmate cases of corruption and deliver on its mission to the area.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mallam Mohammed Bashar who revealed this to newsmen said the ACTU was important for the ministry to effectively deliver on its mission.
He said that the mission of promoting sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta region could only be achieved through prudent and transparent management of resources.
Bashar added that infrastructure deficit in the Niger Delta region could be traced to corruption and urged the staff to make effort to tame the scourge.
“The inauguration of the ACTU of the ministry is, therefore, important in promoting core values like transparency, accountability, integrity and sustainability,” he said.
Bashar commended the Independent Corrupt and related Practices Commission for its new focus of preventing corruption rather than merely prosecuting offenders.
“This is about intervening before corrupt conduct occurs and also creating an environment and strategy that reduces the vulnerability of the system to corrupt practices,” he said.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Ibrahim Msheuwala, the ACTU Chairman, observed that corruption had a negative effect on Nigeria’s economy.
He said that the unit would work to ensure that the vice was rejected by the society.
“The effect of corruption on our nation’s life and economy is very grave and we shall develop a societal attitude that rejects it in all its ramifications.
“We will develop a culture of integrity and build a consensus of public intolerance to corruption in the ministry,” he promised.
ACTU was created by the ICPC to develop a code of ethics for ministries, departments and agencies of government.

Source: Daily Times