House Of Reps Canvasses Independent Budget For ICPC Academy

The Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos, has canvassed for an independent budget for the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), the research and training arm of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), saying that this would lessen the burden placed on the lean financial resources being appropriated to the Commission annually.

Honourable Bagos, who is also the member representing Jos South at the lower chamber, made the appeal during the presentation and defense of the 2022 Appropriation Bill Proposal by ICPC at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, posted on the official website of ICPC.

He stated that if ACAN was drawing its appropriation directly from the National Assembly, it would free some more funds which the Commission could channel to other areas of its operation, saying that would enlarge the scope of anti-corruption activities in Nigeria.

The Member representing Jos South further explained that in order to achieve this independent budget for the Academy, it was imperative for ICPC to ensure that ACAN gets a legislative backing.

According to him, “When you have a law backing the Academy here, it has an independent budget.”

The Committee Deputy Chairman therefore urged the Board of the Commission to start considering the process of giving ACAN a legislative backing.

In his presentation, ICPC Chairman, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, stated the measures being made at upgrading ACAN, noting that the Commission was taking seriously the advice of the members of the committee who were on oversight visit to the Academy a few weeks back and discussed the challenges.

The Chairman further briefed the Committee on the efforts the Commission was making at opening six new state offices in order to expand its scope of operation.

Professor Owasanoye, SAN, also revealed how attempts were made at hijacking the Commission’s cyber infrastructure and the safe guard it had put in place, adding that efforts were being made to enhance its forensic capacity and digital security.

While fielding questions from some members of the Committee on the management of recovered assets, ICPC boss gave a detailed explanation of how the Commission manages such assets until a final forfeiture order has been secured.

He also spoke on the volumes of petition the Commission received, how an appreciable numbers of such petitions were outside the purview of ICPC and how such were referred to appropriate agencies.

After the questions and answer session, the anti-graft Committee adopted the presentation for further legislative action.

….Student Unionism should be Free of Corruption – ICPC

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has charged students to always demand accountability from government or the leadership wherever they find themselves.

The charge was recently made by a representative of the Commission in Lagos State, Mrs Mary Omonoyan of the Public Enlightenment and Education Unit, at the Lagos Student’s Summit and Leadership Awards organized by the National Association of Nigerian Students to mark the International Student’s Day.

The programme, which had as its theme “Students Unionism: Pathway Towards Democratic and United Nigeria”, held at the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

Delivering a lecture titled “The Role of the Youth in the Fight Against Corruption” to over 200 students from various institutions, Mrs. Omonoyan urged the youths to be active members of the society, because youths are vibrant, creative and have the mental alertness for social change.

Mrs Omonoyan explained that since youths were the ones most affected by the negative consequences of corruption, and if unaddressed, it could destroy their dreams, they must play an active role in the fight against the scourge.

She concluded by recommending ways to participate in combating corruption to include not only reporting incidents of corruption, but also educating others on the dangers of corruption, participating in advocacy and electing persons of integrity into positions, and being diligent and disciplined.

She enjoined them to follow ICPC on its various social media platforms.

The NANS Chairman, Lagos, Comrade Abdulrasheed Ogunsanya, in his welcome remarks said, “contrary to expectations in some quarters, creativity, brilliance, intelligence, moral uprightness as well as academic success and decent movements towards national progress are attributes possessed by students which can be channelled into national development and the fight against corruption”.

Dr Olumuyiwa Viatonu, Director, Micheal Odetola College of Education, delivered a lecture titled “Students Unionism: Pathway Towards Democratic and United Nigeria” and spoke on the need for a general overhaul of the Education sector. He also urged for unionism that is intellectual and free of vices.

Lectures were also delivered by Hon Tayo Sanyaolu, Senior Special Assistant, Tertiary Education, Students and Youth in Lagos State; Dr Daudu Rasheed, Dean, Student Affairs, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Lagos; and Hon Wale Raji, Member, Federal House Representatives, represented by Mr Mark Osifeko.

In a related development, Mrs Omonoyan delivered a lecture titled “The three C’s affecting our Society” at an event organised by Igbogbo Students’ Union, Ikorodu, Lagos during their annual conference titled “Revamping Positive Unionism”.

The lecture was delivered virtually to ninety-six participants, during which Omonoyan explained how Crime, Cultism and Corruption affect the country, and proffered solutions to corruption.

During the interactive session the students gave suggestions on how to fight corruption, and made a resolution not to engage in electoral malpractice during elections, nor engage in examination malpractices and cultism; but rather to have integrity and a positive mind-set while contributing their quota in the fight against corruption.

Tijani Abdulsalam, the President of the Union, in his remarks said the lecture was impactful and a call to more action by the youths.