ICPC urges leaders to shun corruption, embrace integrity
By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Osun State has called on leaders in Nigeria to shun every act of corruption and embrace integrity and uprightness in all their day-to-day activities.
Osun State Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Mr Demola Bakare made this call during the media parley in commemoration of this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day held at the Osun State headquarters of the ICPC Osogbo.
According to him, the future of any country depends on the type of leaders it has all over which includes, state government, Federal government as well as local government.
In his words, “The ICPC wishes to use this medium to call on all leaders in the nation to shun every act of corruption or compromise and embrace integrity and uprightness in all their endeavour.
“This will manifest as they follow the rules, give room to others to hold them accountable and make their work transparent”.
Bakare said since its establishment, ICPC has vigorously pursued the implementation of its mandate on all fronts, particularly the eradication of corruption in Nigeria by instituting different initiatives aimed at preventing corruption and fostering public support for the campaign.
“At the state level, a debate competition among selected schools was held for secondary school students in Osun State in commemoration of 2023 Children’s Day and it was an avenue for these children to contribute their quota to the campaign against corruption while a One-Day Workshop was held for leaders of religion in the state.
“The phase 5 of the Commission’s tracking initiative carried out from November 2022, popularly known as Consistency Projects, focused on Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIP). Out of the 703 projects tracked nationally, Southwest had 115 projects ( amounting to N30.9bn).
“Osun State office tracked 28 of the projects worth N851,613,219.48. 5 Contractors, 18 companies were asked to return to sites for projects valued at N403,895,416.39.
“In 2023 out of 443 projects tracked nationwide (amounting to N58bn), a total of 95 capital projects amounting to N10.8bn were allocated to South-West.
“In the 6th Phase of the 2023 Executive Constituency Project Tracking held in Ekiti State, over 85 projects worth N8.028 billion were tracked by the Osun State office of the Commission” Bakare concluded.