By| Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja
The Managing Director/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), alongside Regional and Branch Champions.
Faleye, who spoke at the inauguration ceremony at the Fund’s headquarters in Abuja, described the initiative as a renewed commitment to building an institution anchored on integrity, accountability and public trust.
He said the inauguration went beyond a formal exercise, stressing that it reflected the kind of institution the NSITF management was determined to build.
“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.
Welcoming a delegation of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), led on behalf of its chairman, Faleye commended the commission for its role in promoting compliance and driving transformative initiatives within the Fund.
He described ICPC as a friend of NSITF, noting that collaboration between the two institutions would strengthen ethical standards and improve institutional performance.
According to him, while some organisations may be apprehensive about the presence of the anti-corruption agency, NSITF considers its engagement with the commission an opportunity to learn, improve and strengthen its internal processes.
Faleye, however, allayed fears that the newly inaugurated ACTU was established to witch-hunt staff, explaining that its primary responsibility was preventive and collaborative 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 to regard the Unit as a partner in promoting institutional integrity and encouraged its members to engage colleagues in ways that would foster openness, information sharing and the reporting of suspected wrongdoing.
The NSITF chief charged the newly inaugurated members to discharge their responsibilities with integrity, objectivity, courage and professionalism, noting that the credibility of the Unit would ultimately be measured by its impact on the Fund’s integrity rating.
He said the onboarding of Regional and Branch Champions was particularly important in extending anti-corruption advocacy beyond the headquarters, given that a significant proportion of the Fund’s operations takes place at regional and branch offices.
Faleye emphasised that preventing corruption was the responsibility of every employee, irrespective of rank, and not the exclusive duty of the ACTU.
“Every staff member has a duty to uphold established procedures, protect public resources and act in the best interest of the institution,” he said.
He assured that management would continue to strengthen internal controls, encourage ethical behaviour and lead by example.
“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 discharge their responsibilities with diligence, fairness, objectivity and professionalism to strengthen transparency and accountability within the Fund.
Speaking on their behalf, the Deputy General Manager, General Administration Services, at the NSITF Abuja Regional Office, Mrs Asma’u Mohammed, expressed appreciation to the management, particularly Faleye, for the confidence reposed in them.
She described the inauguration as a renewed commitment to embedding transparency and accountability in the Fund’s operations.
Mohammed said the Unit would play a vital role in promoting ethical values, identifying and mitigating corruption risks, encouraging compliance with established procedures and supporting management in strengthening good governance.
She also welcomed the inauguration of Regional and Branch Champions, describing the initiative as a significant step towards extending integrity advocacy to all NSITF offices.
According to her, the network would strengthen awareness, encourage ethical conduct and ensure that the Fund’s values are reflected in the daily activities of its employees.
“We pledge to discharge our duties with diligence, objectivity, fairness, courage, and professionalism, while upholding the highest standards of integrity in all our engagements,” she said.
Mohammed stressed that the fight against corruption required collective ownership and the active participation of all staff, pledging that the Unit would work with management, employees and relevant stakeholders to reinforce institutional safeguards.
She added that members accepted the responsibility with humility and determination, promising to justify the confidence reposed in them.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the ICPC, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, described the inauguration as a critical step towards strengthening internal mechanisms for promoting integrity, transparency and accountability within the NSITF.
Aliyu commended the Fund’s management and staff for facilitating the inauguration and induction of the ACTU members, noting that the initiative would equip them with the foundation needed to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
He recalled that ACTUs were established through the collaboration of 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, the units serve as internal mechanisms for identifying systemic weaknesses, mitigating corruption risks, promoting ethical conduct and strengthening compliance with established rules and procedures.
The ICPC chairman said the establishment of the ACTU aligned with the NSITF’s vision of becoming Africa’s leading social security institution, driving social policy, economic empowerment and poverty alleviation.
He stressed that the Unit was designed to complement management rather than compete with it or take over its responsibilities.
“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 an enabling environment for the Unit, including adequate funding, appropriate office facilities and representation on relevant standing committees.
He also encouraged the Fund to invite the ICPC to participate as an observer in promotion, recruitment and procurement exercises to strengthen transparency and credibility in the processes.
Congratulating the newly inaugurated members, the ICPC chairman urged them to uphold impartiality and professionalism and avoid relationships or actions capable of compromising their independence and credibility.
He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to working with the NSITF to advance good governance and national development.
Earlier, the Acting Chairperson of the NSITF ACTU, Mrs Udoka Mirian Otti, said the fight against corruption required the commitment and cooperation of every staff member.
Otti described the inauguration and onboarding of ACTU Champions as an important opportunity to deepen anti-corruption awareness and strengthen ethical conduct within the Fund.
She said the Unit remained vital to promoting integrity, transparency and accountability across the organisation.
Otti 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.
The inauguration brings together national ACTU members and Regional and Branch Champions in a coordinated effort to promote ethical standards, strengthen internal controls and build public confidence in the Fund’s operations.
