Abia State Targets Graft with New Integrity Committee Launch

The Abia State Government officially launched its State Strategy for Integrity, Accountability and Anti-Corruption Steering Committee on Wednesday in Umuahia. The newly constituted body has been directed to promptly begin the implementation of the state’s anti-corruption framework.

During the inauguration ceremony, the state's Head of Service, Mr. Benson Ojeikere, highlighted that the establishment of this committee signifies the government’s unwavering dedication to embedding integrity and accountability throughout the public service sector. Ojeikere stated that the members were carefully chosen due to their strategic positions and their proven ability to spearhead the state's anti-corruption objectives.

Comprising primarily of permanent secretaries and other high-ranking government officials, the committee is expected to offer crucial policy guidance, oversee implementation progress, tackle emerging challenges, and ensure that the goals of the State Strategy for Integrity, Accountability and Anti-Corruption are successfully met. Mr. Ojeikere called upon the members to execute their duties with utmost dedication, professionalism, and a profound sense of responsibility, underscoring that the initiative's success would bolster public trust in governmental institutions.

He remarked, “The success of this initiative will strengthen public confidence in government institutions, improve service delivery and further promote transparency in governance.” He expressed strong belief in the committee’s capacity to advance the cause of integrity and accountability within Abia State, explaining that the inauguration was designed to deepen transparency, accountability, and good governance.

Speaking on behalf of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna (SAN), the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Paul Ogubunka, identified corruption as a significant impediment facing the public service. He stressed that Governor Alex Otti’s vision of building a prosperous and accountable Abia State can only materialize on a solid foundation of integrity.

Ogubunka affirmed, “If we are to take the issue of corruption seriously and build the Abia of our dreams as envisioned by Governor Alex Otti, then we must lay a strong foundation of integrity. You cannot build a skyscraper on a weak foundation, and integrity remains the cornerstone of everything this initiative stands for. We have completed the validation exercise, which paved the way for what we are doing today. Moving forward, I encourage all of us to engage effectively in this process so that we can set a new standard for accountability and transparency in Abia State.”

Earlier in his introductory remarks, Mr. Peter Omenka, the State Programme Coordinator of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme, described the steering committee as the essential “policy compass for integrity and accountability” in Abia State. He elaborated that the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme receives funding from the European Union and is implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). The programme is committed to reinforcing the rule of law, enhancing access to justice for vulnerable groups including women, children, and persons with disabilities, and fostering transparency and accountability in public sector bodies.

Omenka highlighted that Abia State is among the latest beneficiaries of this program and emphasized the critical importance of the committee’s oversight function in guaranteeing the effective execution of the state’s anti-corruption agenda. He concluded by stating, “Without strong oversight, Abia’s anti-corruption agenda remains a document; it has no life. With your leadership, it becomes action.”