Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — The Ministry of Petroleum Resources, MPR, has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening transparency and accountability across its departments, with a view to improving its performance rating by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.
This renewed commitment was evident at the deployment of the Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard, EICS, and the ACTU Effectiveness Index, AEI, in Abuja. The exercise was carried out by the ICPC in collaboration with the Ministry’s Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit, ACTU.
Representing the Permanent Secretary at the event, the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics, Mr. Usman Abdulkadir, traced the Federal Government’s anti-corruption efforts back to the Second Republic, when the administration of President Shehu Shagari established the Ministry for National Guidance. He further recalled that successive military governments introduced initiatives such as the War Against Indiscipline, WAI, and the War Against Indiscipline and Corruption, WAIC, which ultimately paved the way for the establishment of the ICPC.
Mr. Abdulkadir acknowledged the persistent challenges of moral decline and corruption in the public sector and emphasized the need for sustained institutional reforms. He assured the ICPC delegation of MPR’s unwavering commitment to improving its performance rating and pledged continued support for the Commission in the discharge of its mandate.
In his remarks, the leader of the ICPC delegation, Dr. Essiet Peter Johnson, underscored the strategic importance of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to the national economy. He emphasized the need for the Ministry to set the standard as a model of integrity in the public sector.
Dr. Essiet explained that the deployment exercise would assess four key departments: Accounts and Finance, Internal Audit, Procurement, and Administration. Each department, he said, would be evaluated based on their compliance with Financial Regulations, the Public Procurement Act, Public Service Rules, and other applicable government guidelines.
He further noted that strong performance on the scorecard not only enhances institutional credibility but also opens up broader opportunities for personnel, including engagements with global institutions.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of ACTU, Mr. Emmanuel Okon, described the presence of the ICPC delegation as a clear indication that integrity and compliance with established rules are non-negotiable elements of national development.
Mr. Okon expressed his team’s readiness to fully support the ICPC in ensuring that the Ministry’s operations align strictly with government regulations and global best practices.
