The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources has launched a renewed effort to enhance transparency and accountability in its operations, aiming to improve its standing in the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) performance rating.
As part of this drive, the Ministry, in collaboration with the ICPC, implemented two key assessment tools the Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS) and the ACTU Effectiveness Index (AEI) during a recent event held in Abuja.
Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics, Mr. Usman Abdulkadir, noted that Nigeria’s anti-corruption history dates back to the Shehu Shagari era and includes later efforts such as the War Against Indiscipline. These early reforms, he said, laid the groundwork for the eventual establishment of institutions like the ICPC.
Abdulkadir pointed out that while corruption and moral decline continue to challenge the public sector, the Ministry remains committed to institutional reform. He assured the ICPC of its full cooperation and support in improving transparency standards.
Dr. Essiet Peter Johnson, who headed the ICPC team, stressed the Ministry’s importance to Nigeria’s economy and said it should be a leading example in integrity and accountability. He explained that the evaluation would focus on key departments; Finance, Procurement, Administration, and Internal Audit and assess their compliance with federal financial guidelines and public service regulations.
Dr. Essiet added that strong results from this exercise could enhance the Ministry’s reputation and open up more opportunities, especially with international partners.
In his remarks, the ACTU Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Okon, welcomed the ICPC delegation and reaffirmed his unit’s commitment to promoting a culture of compliance and good governance within the Ministry.
The initiative reflects the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to meet national standards of transparency while reinforcing its role in Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework.
