May 29: Benue Gov-elect constitutes 29-man transition committee on

Fighting Corruption

The Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owosanoye, has tasked traditional rulers, Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and other stakeholders on supporting government in fighting corruption.

Owosanoye gave the charge on Tuesday in Abuja, at a training for CSOs, Faith Based Organisations (FBOs), Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) on strategies for the implementation of National Ethics and Integrity Policy (NEIP).

The training was organised by Anti-Corruption Academic (ACAN), the research and training arm of ICPC with the support of MacArthur Foundation.

The ICPC boss said that the design and implementation of NEIP identified and recognised, society leaders, religious leaders CSOs, FBOs, OPS and Civil Society Organisations as critical stakeholders.

He said that aim of the policy was to promote the core values such as human dignity, voice and participation, patriotism, personal responsibility, integrity, national unity, professionalism, and human dignity.

While urging them to own, drive the NEIP and to promote its success, Owasanoye said that everybody had a role to play in fighting corruption in the country.

He said that the fight against corruption should not be left in the hand of the government alone adding that“it takes collective responsibility to stamp out corruption in the society.” values and integrity, the fight against corruption will be lost.”

He said the general perception that corrupt practices were solely perpetrated by the government officials was a fallacy, as there was no corrupt act that could be successfully carried out without the support of non-government officials.

He, therefore. called for more public awareness on the policy and the penalty on whoever is found guilty, adding that this could be achieved either through town hail, student and street enlightenment programmes.

“I want to use this medium to appeal to this academy to reach out to all relevant bodies and organisations for their positive contributions towards the implementation strategies.

“I therefore urge this organisation to concentrate on those values, that add to the success of our fight against corruption, indiscipline, maltreatment, sectional differences and disunity in national unity, growth and development,” he said. NAN

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Ahead of May 29 official swear-in day, Benue State Governor-elect, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Lormem Alia has constituted a 29-mwn transition Committee.

A statement signed by the Director of Communications to the Governor-elect, Kula Tersoo, and made available to the media,said the 29 Committee has a mandate to collaborate with the outgoing government’s Transition Committee to ensure a seamless handover of power.

According to him, the committee has former Head of Service of the State Chief Mike Iordye as chairman while Dan Ashiekaa is to serve as secretary.

The Committee is to be formally inaugurated today, Friday 21st

April 2023.

It could be recalled that Governor Samuel Ortom had constituted his Transition Committee headed by Secretary to the State Government Prof. Anthony Ijohor.