Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, has inaugurated a five member Anti-corruption and Transparency Unit, ACTU.

The inauguration was performed by the Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and other related, offences commission, ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, at the Utility Hall, ASUBEB Awka.

Education Correspondent Theophilus Ukoha reports that Anti-corruption and Transparency Unit, is an initiative of the Federal Government to serve as an in-house mechanism for corruption prevention within Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government nationwide.

The five members are Chief Uchenna Ezeani, Chairman, Mrs. Monica Uzodinma- Secretary, Mrs. Mary Mojekwu- member, Mrs. Joy Okorommaduka-member, and Mr. Christian Offor- member.

Performing the inauguration, the Chairman of ICPC, Professor Owasanoye, represented by State Commissioner of ICPC, Enugu office, Barrister Sule Amedu, said the business of acquisition of basic education in Anambra State, which is the main mandate of the Board, can easily be achieved when right policies, systems, structures and professionals are put in place.

He charged the members of the unit to use the mandate given to them to help the Board achieve transparency, accountability, honesty, and diligence in the discharge of its duties.

He listed some of the assigned functions of Anti-corruption and Transparency Unit to include system study and review of processes and procedures of the Board, with a view to making recommendations to block corruption loopholes, sensitization of staff, implementation of the Board’s code of ethics and the conduct of preliminary investigations into complaints received, among others.

Earlier in a welcome address, the Executive Chairman of ASUBEB, Chief Patrick Ugboaja, said the inauguration of the Committee was in tandem with Governor Obiano’s zero tolerance for corruption, which informed the ten shared values for NdI Anambra, especially public servants.

Chief Ugboaja expressed optimism that the Committee members will take a step further by enlightening the generality of the Board members in order for them to eschew corrupt practices and carry out their duties in the interest of the public.

In a lecture titled ” The role of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit in the fight against corruption in MDAs”, the Head, Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, ICPC, Enugu State office, Mr. Ikeoha Chukwuma, said the unit derives its powers from Section seven, Sub section one of the ICPC Act 2000, which empowers the Chairman of the Commission to make standing orders, adding that the Unit shall operate as an autonomous outfit, with functional linkage with the office of the Chief Executive of the respective establishments and must be self-accounting, being guided by core values of integrity, accountability and principles.

In their respective speeches, member one ASUBEB, Dr. Peter Ekemezie and Secretary of the Board, Mrs. Vivian Anyadubalu , expressed confidence in the Committee members, charging them to be diligent.

In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Committee, Chief Uchenna Ezeani, pledged to serve with honesty and accountability.

The Committee members later took oath of allegiance conducted by the Head of Legal Unit of the ICPC Enugu State office, Barrister Enosa Omoghibo.

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