ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has called to question the effectiveness of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs) in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and expressed worries that they might fall short of their core mandate to combat corruption from within the public service.

Chairman House Committee on Anti-Corruption, Rep. Koyode Moshood Akiolu, at the opening of a public hearing to launch an investigation into the operations of the ACTUs in Abuja, raised concerns of the current relevance and integrity of ACTUs, and feared that some may have strayed from their original purpose or become compromised.

He said: “While we recognize the challenges posed by the insidious nature of corruption, we must also confront the realities that not all actions taken in the name of anti-corruption have been entirely above board.

“It is paramount that we investigate and assess whether these units are truly fulfilling their mandates or if they have, regrettably, become enmeshed in the very practices they were created to eradicate”.

In the year 2001 with the approval of the Federal Government, ACTUs were established in over 400 MDAs by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as part of a decentralised strategy to monitor, report, and prevent corruption at the grassroots of government bureaucracy.

The initiative is aimed to address the ICPC’s limited manpower, then with just over a hundred staff, by embedding internal watchdogs in public institutions.

Rep. Akiolu explained that this model was built on the premise that employees within MDAs are best positioned to detect corrupt practices in their environments. He described the strategy as “brilliant” and said the ACTUs “were relevant in 2001; twenty-four years later, they are no less relevant.”

But despite their longevity and widespread presence, concerns have emerged regarding their operational efficiency and independence.

Akiolu who cited reports and public complaints alleged that some ACTUs have either become toothless or, worse, compromised by the very corruption they were designed to police.

According to him, this hearing, is not just a “legislative formality, but a crucial step in evaluating whether these embedded units still serve public interest or require structural reforms”.

“As representatives of the Nigerian people, it is our foremost duty to ensure that public resources are managed with the utmost care and that the trust bestowed upon us is not compromised.

“We must restore faith in our institutions and demonstrate, unequivocally, that there is no tolerance for corruption, whether from within or outside”, he added.

The hearing is expected to gather testimonies and data from civil society organizations, anti-corruption advocates, government representatives, and whistleblowers, with a view to understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the ACTU framework.

Key areas of focus include institutional independence, reporting mechanisms, enforcement capacity, and the credibility of their operations within MDAs.

Akiolu therefore stressed that the Committee would not “shy away from exposing weaknesses or recommending bold reforms”, as he noted that the ultimate goal is to create a public service that operates transparently and is driven by integrity.

“This public hearing is not just a responsibility we owe to ourselves as legislators; it is an obligation we owe to every Nigerian citizen who yearns for a government that is accountable and transparent.

“Let us together explore the gaps that exist, identify potential solutions, and lay down actionable recommendations that can fortify our commitment to anti-corruption,” he said.

In a presentation ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Ali, said that, only 84 MDAs currently have functional Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs) while 92 are yet to establish the units.

Represented by an official of the Commission, Olusegun Adigun, the ICPC Chairman further revealed that at the end of 2024, 127 MDAs had weak or ineffective ACTUs while Five others had units in name only which is hampering government anti-corruption efforts within those establishments.

Dr Ali noted that, Anti-Corruption And Transparency Units of MDAs are not working properly due to lack of funds, direct reporting to Chief Executive Officers of agencies, interferences, lack of political will and support, and resistance to change amongst others.

Declaring the public hearing open, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who was represented by Rep. Umar Ajilo, said the session was not a witch-hunt, but a proactive effort to assess the performance of ACTUs and strengthen institutional integrity.

“We gather not merely as legislators but as custodians of democracy and champions of integrity. Corruption continues to erode our institutions, diminish public trust, and stall our national progress. This hearing is an opportunity to reaffirm our resolve and take decisive action”. Abbas said.

He added that the ACTUs were originally established to monitor, report, and prevent corrupt practices, while also promoting a culture of transparency and ethical conduct in public service. However, the Speaker noted, their effectiveness hinges on political will and institutional support.

“This hearing allows us to assess the functionality of ACTUs, hear from stakeholders, and explore legislative solutions to strengthen their operations. We must dismantle the structures that allow corruption to thrive and institutionalize transparency and accountability,” Speaker Abbas noted.