ICPC Chairman Charges New Permanent Secretaries to Put National Interest Above Personal Gain
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has urged newly appointed Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service to place public interest above personal or sectional considerations, stressing that integrity, transparency and accountability remain indispensable to effective public service and national development.
Dr. Aliyu gave the charge during an induction programme for four newly appointed Permanent Secretaries held at the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Conference Hall in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Abuja, where he warned that public officials must resist corruption and uphold the highest ethical standards in the discharge of their duties.
The development was disclosed in a press statement issued by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and signed by the Head, Media and Public Communications, J. Okor Odey, ANIPR, on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
Presenting a paper titled “Avoiding Corruption Pitfalls: Adherence to Anti-Corruption Principles,” the ICPC Chairman described corruption as a global challenge driven by greed, weak accountability systems, poor institutional oversight and declining integrity.
He explained that corruption goes beyond bribery and includes abuse of office, conflicts of interest, contract inflation, ghost worker schemes, nepotism and other unethical practices that undermine public trust.
“Always place the public interest above personal or sectional interest,” Dr. Aliyu advised the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries.
The ICPC boss also clarified the distinct mandates of Nigeria’s three major anti-corruption agencies.
According to him, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) is responsible for promoting ethical conduct and enforcing asset declaration compliance among public officers, while the ICPC is mandated to prevent, investigate and prosecute corruption in the public sector, alongside carrying out public education on anti-corruption.
He added that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) focuses on investigating and prosecuting economic and financial crimes across all sectors of the economy.
Drawing references from the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), Dr. Aliyu noted that member states are under a binding obligation to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power.
He said the provisions of the ICPC Act 2000 provide a comprehensive legal framework for combating corruption in Nigeria through prevention, enforcement and public enlightenment.
The ICPC Chairman described Permanent Secretaries as the engine room of government, explaining that while ministers formulate policies, Permanent Secretaries bear the responsibility of translating those policies into tangible results for Nigerians.
He reminded them that, as accounting officers and custodians of public resources, they must exercise the highest level of diligence, probity and integrity in managing government finances and programmes.
Dr. Aliyu further urged the new Permanent Secretaries to strengthen internal control systems within their ministries, protect whistleblowers from victimisation and ensure strict compliance with due process in all official activities.
“Corruption extends far beyond bribery. It includes abuse of office, conflicts of interest, contract inflation, ghost worker schemes, nepotism and other unethical practices that erode public confidence in government,” he stated.
In her remarks, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office, Dr. Danjuma Usman Kalba, commended the ICPC Chairman for his unwavering commitment to promoting transparency and accountability in public service.
Kalba also praised the Commission’s proactive efforts to ensure Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) comply with due process in the discharge of government responsibilities.
He noted that such initiatives are critical to strengthening accountability and restoring public confidence in governance institutions.
The induction programme featured four newly appointed Permanent Secretaries, including Mrs. Bekearedo Augustina Waren, Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Dr. Kamil Ayinde Shoretire, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment; Mrs. Nkiruka Bella Jones-Nebo, Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; and Mr. Sani Yargaya Aminu, Permanent Secretary, Special Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The training programme forms part of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation’s continuous efforts to equip newly appointed Permanent Secretaries with the ethical values, leadership skills and administrative competence required to strengthen transparency, accountability and effective service delivery across the Federal Civil Service.
