NSITF Inaugurates Anti-Corruption Unit, Vows Zero Tolerance For Corruption .... As Faleye says ACTU will promote integrity, public trust; ICPC urges transparency in recruitment, procurement

"The initiative underscored the Fund’s determination to build an institution anchored on integrity and public trust, while strengthening internal mechanisms to prevent corruption and promote good governance." Faleye

The Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Mr Oluwaseun Faleye, has reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to transparency, accountability and ethical conduct with the inauguration of its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) and regional and branch champions.

Faleye said the initiative underscored the Fund’s determination to build an institution anchored on integrity and public trust, while strengthening internal mechanisms to prevent corruption and promote good governance.

He stated this in Abuja during the inauguration and onboarding of the ACTU members and champions at the Fund’s headquarters, with a delegation of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in attendance.

Describing the inauguration as a significant milestone in the Fund’s institutional development, the NSITF boss said the initiative went beyond a formal exercise, reflecting management’s commitment to entrenching ethical values across the organisation.

“For us at NSITF, today’s inauguration is much more than a formal exercise. It is really a renewed commitment to the kind of institution we want NSITF to be. One where integrity guides our conduct, accountability defines our actions, and public trust remains central,” he said.

Faleye commended the ICPC for its support and collaboration with the Fund, noting that the relationship between the two agencies was designed to strengthen compliance, promote institutional learning and improve operational standards.

He said, unlike the perception in some quarters that the anti-corruption commission’s involvement in an organisation was a cause for apprehension, the NSITF regarded its engagement with the ICPC as an opportunity to learn, improve and strengthen its governance framework.

The managing director also allayed concerns that the ACTU was established to witch-hunt staff, explaining that the unit’s primary responsibility was preventive rather than investigative or interrogative.

“There is really no cause for concern. It is not a witch-hunt, it is not an investigative or interrogative process. It is rather a collaborative process that guides us from making mistakes we will regret down the line,” he said.

He urged staff members to regard the unit as a partner in institutional development and encouraged its members to engage colleagues in a manner that promotes openness, information-sharing and the reporting of suspected wrongdoing.

Faleye charged the newly inaugurated members and champions to discharge their responsibilities with integrity, objectivity, courage and professionalism, stressing that the unit’s effectiveness would be measured by its impact on the Fund’s integrity and accountability standards.

He explained that the inclusion of regional and branch champions was particularly important because a significant proportion of the Fund’s operations took place outside its headquarters.

According to him, extending the anti-corruption network to the regional and branch levels would ensure that the culture of transparency was embedded throughout the organisation rather than concentrated at the national office.

He maintained that the responsibility for preventing corruption rested with every employee, irrespective of rank, and could not be left to the ACTU alone.

“Every staff member has a duty to uphold established procedures, protect public resources and act in the best interest of the institution,” he said.

The NSITF boss assured that management would continue to strengthen internal controls, encourage ethical behaviour and provide the leadership required to sustain accountability across the Fund.

“Internal control, ethical behaviour, accountability will start from the top and go down the ranks. We are committed to providing the right leadership,” he added.

Meanwhile, members of the newly inaugurated ACTU have pledged to promote transparency, strengthen accountability and uphold the highest standards of professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

The Deputy General Manager, General Administration Services, at the NSITF Abuja Regional Office, Mrs Asma’u Mohammed, who spoke on behalf of the members, expressed appreciation to the Fund’s management, particularly Faleye, for the confidence reposed in them.

She described the responsibility as both an honour and a call to service, assuring that the members would work collaboratively with management, staff and relevant stakeholders to strengthen the Fund’s integrity systems.

Mohammed also commended the ICPC for its continued guidance and support in promoting accountability across public institutions.

She said the inauguration represented a renewed commitment to embedding transparency and ethical conduct in the Fund’s daily operations.

According to her, the ACTU would play a critical role in promoting ethical values, identifying and mitigating corruption risks, encouraging compliance with established procedures and supporting management in advancing good governance.

She noted that the onboarding of regional and branch champions would extend integrity advocacy to every level of the organisation, strengthening awareness and ensuring that the Fund’s values were reflected in the activities of its various offices.

Mohammed pledged that the members would discharge their duties with diligence, fairness, courage, objectivity and professionalism, while working to reinforce the institutional safeguards necessary for effective service delivery.

She, however, stressed that the fight against corruption required the collective commitment of all staff members.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the ICPC, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, described the inauguration as an important step towards strengthening the NSITF’s internal mechanisms for promoting integrity, transparency and accountability.

Aliyu commended the Fund’s management and staff for their support in facilitating the inauguration and induction of the ACTU members.

He explained that the units were established through collaboration between the ICPC and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and had evolved into a recognised anti-corruption platform within the public service.

According to him, ACTUs serve as internal mechanisms for identifying systemic weaknesses, mitigating corruption risks, promoting ethical conduct and ensuring compliance with established rules and procedures.

The ICPC chairman emphasised that the unit was not intended to rival or replace management but to complement its efforts in strengthening institutional accountability.

“It is important to emphasise that the ACTU is a complementary unit to Management. Its role is not to compete with or replace the Management but to support and strengthen the Fund’s efforts in promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical practices,” he said.

Aliyu urged the NSITF management to provide the unit with an enabling environment, adequate funding, appropriate office facilities and representation on relevant standing committees to enable it to function effectively.

He also encouraged the Fund to invite the ICPC to participate as an observer in promotion, recruitment and procurement exercises to enhance transparency, credibility and public confidence in such processes.

Congratulating the newly inaugurated members, he urged them to remain impartial and professional, warning them against relationships or actions capable of compromising their independence and credibility.

He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to working with the NSITF to strengthen the ACTU and advance good governance in the public service.

Also speaking, the Acting Chairperson of the NSITF ACTU, Mrs Udoka Mirian Otti, described the fight against corruption as a collective responsibility requiring the active participation of all employees.

Otti said the inauguration and onboarding programme was critical to raising anti-corruption awareness and strengthening the culture of transparency, accountability and ethical conduct within the Fund.

She noted that, as an institution responsible for providing social security protection to Nigerian workers and their dependants under the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, the NSITF must ensure that its internal processes reflected fairness, responsibility and accountability.

She expressed appreciation to the ICPC for its continued guidance and collaboration, as well as to the NSITF management for supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability across the organisation.