In line with the directive of the Federal Ministry of Transport, the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), yesterday, re-inaugurated its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Unit of the Council (ACTU).
Speaking at the occasion held at the Shippers’ Towers in Apapa, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Barrister Hassan Bello, said that the re-inauguration of the ACTU is an indication of the Council’s commitment to the goals and aspiration of the federal government in tackling corruption.
According to him, the Council has always been an anti-corruption vanguard with the establishment of a Transparency Monitoring Committee (TMC) in 2001 to assist and mediate in matters affecting shippers in Nigeria. He assured that the ACTU will continue to get all the necessary support it required to effectively perform its functions.
“It is our desire to participate in the fight against corruption by creating an organizational environment where all practices which tend to promote corruption are totally eliminated, an environment where the staff are encouraged to perform their official functions with integrity and full observance of due process”, Hassan stated.
Also speaking, Head of Lagos Zonal Office of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Shetimma Binga, stated that the essence of setting up ACTU is to assist the Commission deliver a corrupt-free society even as he enjoined the members to carry out their duties without fear or favor especially in the course of an investigation.
In his words,” Why I want to zero down on investigation is the fact that it is the aspect that actually draws a lot of attention because the moment somebody approaches you in the course of investigation, chances are you have already become enemies and if you are already an enemy of somebody, it will serve very well to remain on course and follow the law. Whether the person likes you or not as long as you play right, you will still get there,” Binga advised.
While urging the members to always maintain integrity and high reputation, Binga advised them to guide against unethical conducts and avoid bias against any party in carrying out their duties.
“Membership of the ACTU is not an invitation to blackmail anybody or have a preconceived idea on the final outcome of an investigation and they should not see their work as an opportunity or call to witch hunt anyone,” he said.
The NSC ACTU has Mr. Samuel Vongtau as Chairman; Mr. Benjamin Ivwighughweta as Secretary while Mrs. Enoche Ogenyi, Mr. Olusesan Awoniyi and Mrs. Nkechi Emeruwa will serve as members.
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