ICPC charges anti-corruption network to eradicate corruption in LGs in Enugu State
ICPC on Thursday in Enugu charged the Whistle Blowers Anti-Corruption Reporting Network (WARN), an NGO, to work hard in eradicating corrupt practices in council areas in Enugu State.
ICPC chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, gave the charge while inaugurating members of the Enugu State chapter of WARN Network.
Owasanoye, who was represented by Mr Enosa Omoighibo, ICPC’s Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Enugu State, urged WARN members to ensure uprightness and transparency as they kicked corruption out of Enugu State.
“Your task needs utmost professionalism and confidentiality in order for you to win public trust and through that, you get the needed information and vital intelligence to nail down corruption,’’ he said.
The chairman, however, commended WARN for its support for the ICPC and for other anti-graft agencies, stressing that “unless we eradicate corruption, it will sink the whole country.’’
He appealed to Nigerians to join in the fight against corruption to better the lot of the country and its future generation, saying: “If you see something going wrong, say something.’’
In his remarks, Executive Director of WARN, Mr Gabriel Onwe, said it had received 1,381 whistle-blowing information and supplied same to anti-corruption agencies which had secured three convictions.
“WARN is collaborating with Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs) in 499 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to complement and strengthen the efforts of the ICPC in preventing corruption.
“One key benefit of ACTU is increased capacity to efficiently assess corruption vulnerabilities in the MDAs,’’ he said.
In a goodwill message, Mr Aloysius Obiorah, Commandant of the Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Enugu State, assured WARN of its cooperation, adding that NSCDC was in the vanguard of fighting corruption as well.
Obiorah said that the NSCDC had a full-fledged anti-corruption unit in each of its state commands, adding that the unit specialises in fighting all forms of corruption.
Mrs Callista Ugwu, Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Enugu State, assured WARN of the assistance of the agency to achieve its mandate.
Ugwu noted that the NOA would activate its anti-corruption clubs in primary and secondary schools to deepen the participation of more residents in the fight against corruption.
Dr Valentine Madubuko, Enugu State Coordinator of the National Human Right Commission, said that corruption had been a cankerworm eating up the wealth and development of the country.
“We must put concerted efforts together to ensure we change the tide of embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds in the country at all levels,’’ Madubuko said. (NAN)
