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Shun Corrupt Practices, ICPC Warns NDDC Workers

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has warned the Niger Delta Development Commission’s staff against engaging in corrupt practices.

ICPC Anti-Corruption Commissioner in charge of Rivers and Bayelsa state offices, Mrs Ekere Usiere, gave the warning in a statement issued by NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt, last Friday.

According to the statement, Usiere spoke during the quarterly anti-corruption sensitisation workshop for NDDC staff, warning that anybody caught in the act would face the full wrath of the law.

She acknowledged the critical role of the NDDC in the development of the Niger Delta region, and stressed the importance of holding periodic meetings to sensitise staff against corrupt practices.

“NDDC staff must distance themselves from corruption, as anybody caught will be prosecuted in accordance with the law,” she stated.

Usiere explained that regular anti-corrupt workshops would enable NDDC employees to understand the impact of corruption on development and how to prevent it.

“This workshop themed, ‘Infractions/Offences in Anti-Graft Laws; Preventive Measures,’ serves as an antidote to corrupt practices,” she said.

Also speaking, Head of Legal Department at ICPC in Rivers, Dr Evans Peters, urged the commission to strengthen its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit to enhance its effectiveness.

He further advised the NDDC to implement a system for continuous review of corruption-prone processes and procedures, and to develop a code of ethics that would include corruption prevention guidelines for staff.

According to Peters, it is an offence for an individual to inflate contracts, award contracts without budgetary provision, and frustrate investigations.

“In addition, any staff who make false statements and returns, fail to report bribery activities, and conspire to provide false information, or engage in similar acts will be prosecuted.

“Every public servant should take the ICPC Act as a Bible and internalise its tenets, as ICPC frowns heavily on gratification,” he said

Peters further warned that proceeds from crime, or anything beyond a worker’s legitimate income, remained subject to seizure by the government, with the offender still liable to prosecution.

“Anyone caught in corrupt practices could be sent to jail. The law does not condone ignorance,” he added.

Earlier, Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, emphasised the importance of adopting measures to tackle corruption and entrench transparency in public service.

Represented by Dr James Fole, NDDC’s Director III of Administration and Human Resources, Ogbuku stated that the workshop formed part of a broader strategy to enhance service delivery in the commission.

“We are passionate about service delivery; hence, we organised this workshop to educate our staff on the need to avoid corrupt acts.

“We want our staff to work with diligence and uprightness while carrying out their duties,” he advised.

Ogbuku noted that the NDDC Board and Management would spare no effort to ensure that ethics and values would be firmly entrenched in the commission.

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Elele Etche community Gets Interim Youth Leaders ….As traditional rulers  Warned Against land grabbing 

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Elele Community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers state has inaugurated an interim Youth Executive to run the affairs of the Elele Central Youth Association for the next six months.
Among those inaugurated are, Comrade Godspower Anaele as the youth leader, Godspower Nwala, deputy youth leader and Barrister Nnamdi Abel as General Secretary/Legal Adviser.
Also inaugurated are,Mr Ifeanyi Emmanuel as Assistant General Secretary,Chibuike Nwamkpa as financial secretary, Michael Ogundu , public Relations officer,Miss Faith Nwaobilor , welfare officer and Charles I K.Agugoesi as provost.
The Ochimba of Elele community Etche local government Area ,HRH Eze Innocent Anaemeje who inaugurated the youth executive warned them against involvement in anti social behaviours
Eze  Anaemeje particularly warned them against involvement in land grabbing stressing that having eliminated land grabbing from the area, the community will frown at any attempt to bring it back.
He   said though the interim youth executive has six months to run the affairs of the Elele central youth Association, the community might return them if their performances are satisfactory.
In an interview with newsmen, The Elele Etche monarch said his kingdom has only one youth body which is the Elele Central Youth Association, warning that private youth bodies will never be allowed to operate in the kingdom.
He said his kingdom is laying a foundation that will promote hardwork and respect to constituted Authoritaties especially from the youth, adding that nobody irrespective of his position will be allowed to hold the community to ransom
According to him, the youth of Elele Etche must respect their elders , the government and cultivate the virtues of hardwork and honesty, stressing that nobody will be allowed to bring shame to the kingdom.
Anaemeje who is the chairman welfare committee of The Etche Supreme Council of  Traditional Rulers used the occasion to call on both the  Rivers state Government and Etche Local Government Council to assist the community with the rehabilitation of its dilapidated health centre
He said the health centre which was constructed through communal efforts has become dilapidated leading to its abandonment.
Eze Anaemeje also called for Government intervention on the epileptic power situation in the area and congratulated Governor Siminalaye Fubara for his reinstatement after six months of emergency rule in the state.
Also speaking the Ezeoha of Etche ethnic nationality,HRH  Eze Chima Nwagha called on  youths in the community to respect their elders
He warned that no indigene in the area should be allowed to use his position to destroy the kingdom and advised the newly inaugurated youth association to rule with the fear of God.
By: John Bibor & Birane progress
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Stop blaming leaders, take responsibility, CAN tells Nigerians

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The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Borno State chapter, has urged Nigerians to make the right choices and take responsibility for the nation’s progress instead of blaming leaders for its challenges.

Borno CAN Chairman, Bishop John Bogna Bakeni, made the call in Maiduguri on Saturday, stressing that national renewal requires both accountable leadership and responsible citizenship.

He said the transformation of Nigeria’s economic and political systems depends on deliberate moral choices and collective action by citizens.

“As I said in my message on the pulpit, Nigerians must make the right choices. We must hold our leaders accountable at all levels, but we must also take responsibility,” Bishop Bakeni stated.

He added that it is not enough to desire a better country without consciously choosing good over evil and making efforts to build it.

Bakeni noted that problems such as kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and corruption stem from the failure of families to instill discipline and values in their children.

“We cannot continue to blame the government alone. Parents must monitor their children and instill discipline and honesty in them. Evil thrives when families abandon their moral duties,” he warned.

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NUJ hails DSS for releasing detained journalists

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The Nigeria Union of Journalists has commended the Department of State Services for the prompt release of two journalists, Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang of Jay 101.9 FM, Jos, who were recently arrested while covering the funeral of the late mother of the All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.

The NUJ National President, Alhassan Yahya, in a statement on Sunday, said the union welcomed the intervention of the DSS Director-General, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, which led to the immediate release of the journalists.

Our correspondent gathered that the journalists had captured footage showing DSS operatives preventing some pastors from gaining access to the church premises where the funeral service was taking place.

Security officials were screening attendees, and in the process, some clerics were denied entry.

Marcus and Jang had been detained after posting a video report on social media showing a confrontation between a cleric and security operatives at the funeral, an incident that raised widespread concern over press freedom and the right of journalists to perform their lawful duties.

The statement partly read, “We are encouraged by the decisive intervention of the DSS Director-General, who not only ordered their release but also personally reached out to the Union to tender his apologies. He has also reiterated his directive to DSS operatives to conduct thorough investigations before making arrests.”

The NUJ president described the gesture as a positive shift in the culture of Nigeria’s security institutions.

“The willingness of the DSS leadership to admit errors, apologise where necessary, and commit to reforms is an important step in strengthening public trust and confidence in the agency,” he stated.

While commending the development, Abdullahi urged the DSS and other security agencies to sustain the new approach and respect the rights of journalists at all times.

“Press freedom is the bedrock of democracy, and journalists must never be treated as adversaries for performing their constitutional duties. We call on the DSS to institutionalise accountability by sanctioning officers whose actions undermine democratic values and constitutional rights”, he said.

He stressed that only by enforcing discipline within the ranks can such progress be consolidated.

Abdullahi further assured that the NUJ remains committed to constructive engagement with security institutions to strengthen mutual understanding, promote professionalism, and safeguard both press freedom and national security.

“We urge our members across the country to remain vigilant, courageous, and professional in the discharge of their duties,” the NUJ president added.

 

 

 

 

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