he National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to accountability and ethical conduct with the inauguration of a five-member Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) committee at its facility in Jos.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening internal oversight, identifying weaknesses that could enable corrupt practices and promoting transparency in the centre’s operations.
Director-General and Chief Executive of NMDC, Engr. Prof. Linus Asuquo, said government institutions must work collectively to protect public resources and close loopholes that allow corruption to thrive.
Asuquo’s remarks were delivered by Dada Emily Bola, Director and Head of the Department of Analytical Services, during the inauguration and induction ceremony at the centre’s Multimedia Centre.
NMDC Chief Calls for Collective Responsibility in Fighting Corruption
Asuquo stressed that public institutions could only fulfil their mandates and contribute meaningfully to national development if their management and staff made a deliberate effort to prevent corruption.
He described the fight against corrupt practices as a shared responsibility that should remain central to the operations of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
According to him, NMDC must maintain high ethical standards to achieve its ambition of becoming a global centre of excellence in adding value to Nigeria’s minerals and metals.
The director-general explained that the establishment of ACTU was intended to provide an internal watchdog capable of identifying misconduct, strengthening compliance and helping management address weaknesses in the organisation’s procedures.
He maintained that corruption prevention should never be treated as optional in the public service, comparing its importance to the oxygen necessary for human survival.
ICPC Gives NMDC 64 Per Cent on Ethics Compliance
Asuquo disclosed that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had awarded NMDC a score of 64 per cent in its Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard.
He said the centre was determined to improve on that performance during the next assessment, signalling management’s intention to strengthen compliance with ethical and integrity standards.
The NMDC chief also expressed confidence in the newly selected ACTU members, describing them as individuals of proven integrity who had been carefully chosen to lead the unit’s work.
He assured the ICPC that the centre’s management would provide the necessary support to enable the committee to carry out its responsibilities effectively.
ICPC Explains the Legal Foundation of ACTU
Mary Otabo, who represented the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner and serves as Head of Public Education and Enlightenment, outlined the legal and administrative framework behind the establishment of ACTU across government institutions.
She explained the background of the ICPC Act of 2000 and referred to a circular issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on April 16, 2003. The directive, referenced as OHCSF/MSO/192/94, mandated the creation of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units in ministries, departments and agencies.
Otabo said the units were designed to strengthen internal mechanisms for detecting and preventing corruption while encouraging public servants to uphold accountability and ethical standards.
She urged the newly inducted members to understand the rules governing their operations and apply them consistently in carrying out their duties.
ACTU Mandate Includes Investigations and Identifying Corruption Risks
Otabo outlined several responsibilities assigned to ACTU, including receiving complaints and reports concerning suspected corruption, attempted corrupt acts or conspiracies within government institutions.
The units are also expected to conduct appropriate preliminary investigations and refer cases to the ICPC where necessary.
Other responsibilities include identifying areas vulnerable to corruption, reviewing organisational systems and procedures, and recommending measures to management and the commission to address weaknesses that could facilitate fraud or misconduct.
ACTU is further expected to promote transparency and accountability by educating employees about bribery, corruption, ethical conduct and related offences through seminars, lectures and awareness programmes.
According to Otabo, the central purpose of the initiative is to prevent corruption before it occurs and improve the effectiveness and transparency of public service delivery.
ICPC Warns Against Interference With Transparency Units
Otabo cautioned government institutions against withholding funding from ACTU or restricting the units’ ability to operate independently within their assigned responsibilities.
She warned that an MDA that refuses to support its ACTU or attempts to obstruct its work could attract closer scrutiny and a possible full investigation by the ICPC.
Her remarks underscored the importance of providing the units with the resources and operational freedom required to perform their oversight functions.
She also encouraged the NMDC committee members to rely on established rules and procedures when handling complaints, identifying risks and making recommendations.
Five-Member NMDC Committee Formally Inaugurated
A major highlight of the ceremony was the formal inauguration and induction of NMDC’s five-member ACTU committee, chaired by Mrs Temitope Alonge.
The induction was conducted by Lorngee Solomon, Head of Legal Services at the ICPC’s Benue State Zonal Command.
The event also featured presentations of two papers by members of the ICPC team, alongside the handover of copies of the ACTU Operational Booklet and Corruption Index Guide to the representative of the NMDC director-general.
These materials are intended to guide the committee’s work and support its understanding of operational responsibilities and corruption-related risks.
NMDC Management Pledges Support for ACTU
In his vote of thanks, Nwosu Uwaezuoke, Head of the Human Resources Management Department, expressed appreciation to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the ICPC for promoting accountability across public institutions through the establishment of ACTU.
He pledged the cooperation of NMDC’s management and staff in supporting the newly inaugurated committee and ensuring that it performs its duties effectively.
The centre’s leadership expressed its intention to improve on its ethics compliance performance and reinforce the safeguards needed to prevent corrupt practices.
With the inauguration of the committee, NMDC has established an additional internal mechanism for promoting integrity, reviewing institutional weaknesses and strengthening accountability as it pursues its mandate of adding value to Nigeria’s mineral and metal resources.
