The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has established a 12-member Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) within the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to combat unethical behavior and corruption.
The inauguration was conducted at the Revenue House in Abuja on Tuesday.
This announcement was made in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS Chairman, Dare Adekanmbi, to the FIRS chairman.
The FIRS chairman, Zacch Adedeji, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Tayo Koleosho, urged the newly inducted members of the anti-corruption unit to uphold integrity, highlighting that “He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.”
Adedeji emphasized the importance of the unit in maintaining the core values of the FIRS, which strictly oppose corruption.
He stressed that the real work begins now, stating, “The easy part of being a member of FIRS anti-corruption unit has just been done. The real work starts now. The FIRS Executive Chairman, Dr Zacch Adedeji believes that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. The staff of FIRS and, by extension, the taxpayers as well as the general public should be able to relate with the integrity you bring to this responsibility.”
The Coordinating Director of the Support Services Group at FIRS, Mohammed Abubakar, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACTU).
He encouraged the unit members to serve as models of honesty and integrity.
The ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu, represented by the Director of System Study and Review, Olusegun Adigun, outlined the unit’s responsibilities of, which include the periodic sensitization of staff on corruption, examination of systems prone to corruption, and the development of ethical standards for staff compliance.
Aliyu emphasized, “The ACTU is not set up as a parallel authority to the management. Rather, they are to work closely with the management to build a reputable agency. I, therefore, implore the FIRS to see the unit in this light and support it by providing a conducive environment for it to function, providing funds and office accommodation, as well as incorporating members in various standing committees as contained in the extant circular of the Federal Government.”
The Director of the anti-corruption unit, Hajia Sa’adatu Yero commended Adedeji for his commitment to strengthening the unit.
She remarked, “ACTU is entrusted with the critical responsibility of preventing corrupt practices within the Service through effective implementation of the anti-corruption measures and mechanisms. ACTU strives to eliminate unethical practices, ensuring the highest standards of integrity and transparency in the operations at FIRS.”
Yero also noted that the FIRS ACTU has been recognized for its performance, scoring 79.95 per cent in the 2022 Ethics and Integrity Scorecard survey.
She concluded by highlighting the Chairman’s decision to appoint a Director to lead the unit, underscoring the agency’s dedication to eliminating corruption.
The newly formed unit is expected to collaborate with various stakeholders, including the ICPC, the Nigerian Police Force, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, to effectively address corruption risks within the FIRS.
