National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) has inaugurated its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct in institutional administration.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, Director General, NILDS, Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman described the establishment of the unit as a significant milestone for the Institute and a demonstration of its commitment to supporting national efforts to combat corruption.
Prof. Sulaiman commended the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for its proactive approach to promoting integrity across public institutions. He noted that corruption extends beyond financial misconduct to include abuse of office, ethical violations, and actions that undermine the public interest, stressing the need for integrity to remain the foundation of public service.
The Director General emphasized that the fight against corruption requires collective responsibility and strategic partnerships between anti-corruption agencies and public institutions. He expressed confidence that the newly inaugurated ACTU members would discharge their responsibilities diligently and contribute meaningfully to strengthening transparency and accountability within the Institute.
Representing the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Olusegun Adigun, Director of System Study and Review, described ACTU as a government recognized anti-corruption platform designed to serve as an internal mechanism for identifying systemic weaknesses, promoting ethical standards and supporting institutional accountability. He urged the Institute to provide the unit with the necessary support and enabling environment to effectively carry out its mandate.
Mr. Adigun further highlighted the responsibilities of ACTU to include staff sensitization on anti-corruption and ethics, corruption risk assessment, review of organizational processes, monitoring of budget implementation, promotion of integrity compliance, and preliminary investigation of complaints where necessary.
The ceremony featured the formal administration of the oath of office on the newly inaugurated ACTU members by Barr. Nkem Ezenwa, Head of the ACTU Unit at ICPC, officially ushering them into their roles as ambassadors of integrity, transparency, and accountability within the Institute.
As part of the event, the ICPC delegation presented the ACTU Operational Manual to the Director-General of NILDS to serve as a guide for the effective operation of the unit. The Commission also designated Mr. Matthew Biose is a liaison officer between ICPC and NILDS to facilitate coordination, support, and continuous engagement with the Institute’s ACTU.
The inauguration featured the formal induction of ACTU members drawn from various departments of the Institute, with participants reaffirming their commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance in line with the mandate of NILDS. The event concluded with a renewed commitment by NILDS and ICPC to strengthen collaboration in advancing ethical conduct, institutional integrity, and accountability in public service.
