NDDC Bolsters Anti-Corruption, Transparency Unit for Good Governance

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has recently reinvigorated its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) as part of a broader commitment to champion transparency, accountability, and sound governance throughout the Niger Delta region.

During the inauguration ceremony for the ACTU, held at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the NDDC Managing Director, emphasized the unit's crucial role. He described ACTU as a vital mechanism for fostering ethical conduct, preventing corrupt practices, and building public trust in the Commission. This information was conveyed in a statement released on Tuesday by Seledei Thompson-Wakama, the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, and distributed to media outlets.

Dr. Ogbuku, whose remarks were delivered by Boma Iyaye, the NDDC Executive Director for Finance and Administration, tasked the newly appointed members of the anti-corruption unit with upholding the highest standards of integrity. He urged them to ensure that no room for corruption exists within the Commission. Acknowledging corruption as a global challenge, he called upon ACTU, which functions as an internal anti-graft mechanism of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to fortify internal systems that promote openness and responsibility. The NDDC chief further advised the Commission’s Internal Audit Department to collaborate closely with ACTU to strengthen accountability across all departments and maintain the Commission's positive public image.

He stated, “As members of the ACTU, your integrity must remain unquestionable. If those entrusted with fighting corruption become compromised, everything is at stake. You must lead by example and uphold the values of transparency and accountability.”

Dr. Ogbuku extended his gratitude to the ICPC Chairman for their collaboration and support, noting that ACTU members were carefully chosen based on their competence and integrity. He reaffirmed the current NDDC Board and Management's dedication to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to embed transparency, accountability, and effective service delivery in the Niger Delta.

Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, the Chairman of the ICPC, commended the NDDC for inaugurating the new ACTU executives. Represented by Mrs. Ekere Usiere, the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner for the Rivers and Bayelsa Zonal Office, Dr. Aliyu hailed the initiative as a significant stride towards enhancing institutional integrity and promoting transparency in public service. He explained that ACTU was established in 2001 by the ICPC, in partnership with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, to serve as an internal mechanism. Its purpose is to identify and address systemic weaknesses that could lead to corruption within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. He cautioned the committee members against witch-hunting or abusing the trust placed in them, urging them to carry out their duties with fairness, professionalism, and integrity.

In her acceptance speech, Mrs. Deinma Ebong, the Chairperson of the NDDC ACTU, pledged to bridge the gap between the ICPC’s ideals and the Commission’s daily operations. She emphasized that the unit would prioritize strengthening systems over policing staff. Ebong added that ACTU would promote ethics education, continuous staff sensitization, open communication, and collaboration with all directorates, departments, units, and state offices to proactively prevent corruption. She thanked the Managing Director and the Commission’s management for their confidence and appealed to staff members for their cooperation and support in advancing the Commission’s agenda for transparency and accountability.