The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, in partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has inaugurated its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), in a bid to strengthen transparency and accountability within the Ministry.
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, in partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has inaugurated its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), in a bid to strengthen transparency and accountability within the Ministry.
The inauguration ceremony, which held on Thursday at the Ministry’s headquarters, Radio House, Abuja, was described as a significant step in deepening institutional integrity and ethical service delivery.
Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Chinasa Nnam Ogbodo, the Director of National Archives of Nigeria, Dr Evelyn Odigboh, welcomed officials of the ICPC and other invited guests. She noted that the establishment of ACTU was not just procedural, but a clear signal of the Ministry’s resolve to institutionalise anti-corruption mechanisms.
“Today’s ceremony is a symbol of renewed commitment and a formal declaration that we, as a Ministry, are not only willing but fully prepared to rise to the challenge of integrity, transparency, and accountability in public service,” Dr Odigboh said, quoting the Permanent Secretary.
While noting that the Ministry had previously operated under informal anti-corruption principles, she said the formal induction of ACTU marked a transition to a more structured framework of vigilance and oversight.
“Integrity is not optional; it is the soul of public service, and we are committed to protecting it,” she said.
In his remarks, Director of Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Division at ICPC, Mr Kayode Kupolati, who represented the ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, commended the Ministry for aligning with national anti-corruption reforms.
He described ACTU as a vital internal instrument for monitoring, ethics enforcement, and early detection of corruption risks.
According to him, ACTU’s mandate includes periodic staff sensitization, system reviews, risk assessments, budget oversight, enforcement of codes of conduct, and coordination of integrity programmes. He stressed that ACTU functions under the direct supervision of the Permanent Secretary, not in rivalry with the Ministry’s management.
“I congratulate the newly appointed ACTU members. Discharge your duties with integrity, professionalism, and courage. The ICPC remains committed to supporting you as partners in promoting accountability,” he said.
The newly appointed ACTU Chairman, Mrs Anita Odeh, in her vote of thanks, expressed appreciation to the Ministry and ICPC for the confidence reposed in the team.
She pledged to lead with transparency, foster teamwork, and ensure that the Unit delivers on its responsibilities.
“On behalf of the newly inducted members, I want to thank the ICPC and the Ministry’s leadership for this opportunity. We promise to uphold the values of integrity, accountability, and service. May God guide us all,” she said.
The ceremony concluded with the administration of the Oath of Allegiance by an ICPC legal officer, after which a group photograph was taken with the ACTU members, Ministry officials, and ICPC delegation.