By Habibu Harisu
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has sought inter-agency collaboration to combat corruption effectively in correctional facilities.
The commission said the synergy would instill discipline and moral values in correctional service personnel.
ICPC Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner in Charge of Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States, Mr Garba Tukur-Idris, made the call on Thursday when he visited Sokoto State Command of Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS).
Tukur-Idris spoke during the visit while responding to the Correctional Comptroller’s request.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the requests included the need to consider correctional centres for an anti-corruption awareness campaign as the character of remodeling homes.
Tukur-Idris said ICPC engaged in sanitizing institutions against all forms of corruption by establishing Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTU) that serve as in-house liaison officers to the agency.
”The ICPC war against corruption is critical to good governance, growth, and country development. It is essential for all government agencies to collaborate to stem the tide of corruption in the country,” Tukur-Idris advised.
He expressed concern over the rate at which corruption had crept into the nation’s fabric, saying that such action must not be left unchecked.
According to him, the impact of corruption has led to underdevelopment and poverty, which discourages investors from investing in the country.
He added that the fight against corruption was supposed to be a collective responsibility, not ICPC’s business alone.
The Correctional Comptroller of Sokoto State Command, Mr Salihu Abdullahi, appreciated the ICPC Chief for the visit and described it as a platform to consolidate the already established cordial relationship between the two agencies.
Meanwhile, in a similar visit to Mr Kamal Muhammad, the Area Comptroller of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command, the comptroller appreciated Tukur-Idris for the visit and assured continued working synergy.
Muhammad described ICPC activities as a server drive to the nation’s image and resources, stressing that fighting corruption needed maximum support at all levels.
He said NCS headquarters had ensured maximum compliance with all ICPC regulations and prioritized relationships on various activities towards a corrupt-free society.
Also, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander in Sokoto state, Mr Abdullahi Maikano, assured that the command’s licence and plate number center is active.
Maikano commended Tukur-Idris’s foresight in strengthening relationships with FRSC and other agencies through the visits.
He observed that effective collaboration would deepen cooperation and synergize efforts, resulting in a more significant impact on the anti-corruption drive.
