The Federal Ministry of Education has inaugurated its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) Committee as part of efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability and ethical governance in the ministry.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, said the committee would serve as a preventive mechanism to promote due process, ethical conduct and compliance with public service regulations across the ministry and its agencies.
Enitan said the ministry, being responsible for formulating and implementing national education policies, must uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and accountability.
He described corruption as a major obstacle to national development, saying it weakens institutions, diverts resources meant for education and erodes public trust. He urged members of the committee to carry out their responsibilities with diligence, patriotism and impartiality.
The permanent secretary also called on staff of the ministry to embrace its EPIC values—Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-Centred—to improve service delivery.
Representing the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Adamu Aliyu, the commission's representative, Olusegun Adigun, said the inauguration marked a major step in strengthening the ministry's internal anti-corruption framework.
He explained that ACTU, established through a partnership between the ICPC and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, serves as a preventive and advisory body to promote integrity and accountability in public institutions.
According to him, the reconstituted committee will focus on anti-corruption awareness, ethics promotion, corruption risk assessments, system reviews, budget implementation monitoring and preliminary investigation of complaints relating to unethical conduct.
Earlier, the Director of Special Duties in the ministry, Murtala Tanko, said the inauguration demonstrated the ministry's commitment to institutionalising transparency and preventing corruption across its departments, agencies and schools.
Responding on behalf of the committee, its chairman, Malik Guni Kuje, thanked the ministry for the confidence reposed in members and pledged to provide transparent and accountable leadership.
He said the committee would strengthen preventive measures against corruption through continuous sensitisation, policy reviews and strict compliance with public service rules and ICPC guidelines.
The event also featured the administration of the Oath of Allegiance on members of the committee.
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