ICPC unveils anti-corruption unit in FIRS

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has inaugurated the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to ensure zero tolerance for unethical acts and corruption in the agency.

The 12-member anti-corruption unit inaugurated by the ICPC in Abuja on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, was constituted by the FIRS Chairman, Zacch Adedeji.

Speaking at the event, Adedeji, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Tayo Koleosho, urged the newly inducted members of the anti-corruption unit to live above board, saying “He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.”

The FIRS chairman charged members of the unit to reflect the core values of the agency which he said abhor corruption, tasking them to bring integrity and transparency to bear in their roles and responsibilities.

The Coordinating Director of Support Services Group, Mohammed Lawal Abubakar, noted that the FIRS will continue to provide support for the anti-corruption unit and urged the inductees to be good examples of people imbued with honesty and integrity.

On his part, the ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, who was represented by the commission’s Director of System Study and Review, Olusegun Adigun, said the FIRS ACTU members would be supported to deliver on their mandate.

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Aliyu said: “With this inauguration, the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit of the FIRS has been empowered to deliver on its mandate which includes: periodic sensitisation of staff on the ills of corruption; examination of systems, processes and procedures that are prone to corruption and offering solutions; developing and reviewing code of ethics for staff and ensuring compliance with same; monitoring budget and its implementation by the FIRS, coordinating the deployment of the ethics and integrity scorecards and undertaking preliminary investigation into complaints and reports received.

“The ACTU is not set up as a parallel authority to the management. Rather, they are to work closely with the management to build a reputable agency.

“I, therefore, implore the FIRS to see the unit in this light and support it by providing a conducive environment for it to function, provide funds and office accommodation as well as incorporate members in various standing committees as contained in the extant circular of the federal government.”

The director of the anti-corruption unit, Sa’adatu Yero, commended Adedeji for being truly intentional about strengthening the unit.

The Star