Hold Leaders Accountable for Good Governance, ICPC Tells Nigerians

*Nwadiora: collective action needed to kill corruption 

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

One of the key agencies of the federal government empowered by law to fight corruption in Nigeria, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has said every Nigerian has a constitutional role to monitor and evaluate the performance of leaders of the country, especially those in charge of governance.
The Commission welcomed civil society organisations to join the National Anti-Corruption Coalition (NACC), a platform established by the ICPC to help consolidate gains being made in the crusade against corruption in the country.

The injunction by the ICPC came just as the Convener of the: “Do The Right Thing Campaign,” Chief Mike Nwadiora, said Nigeria could actually attain greatness if citizens  reorientate their minds to do the right thing and to support the fight against corruption.

Speaking at a One-Day Summit tagged: “Being The Right Leader organised by the group, Do The Right Thing,” spokesperson of the ICPC, Mrs. Azuka C. Ogugua, said political leaders could endear themselves to the people if they are accountable and follow the rules and make their work transparent.
She said leaders should always give room for others to hold them accountable.
She added: “The Commission wishes to use this opportunity to call on all leaders in the country to shun every act of corruption or compromise and embrace integrity and uprightness in all their activities.

“This will manifest as they follow the rules, give room to others to hold them accountable, and make their work transparent.”
Ogugua, disclosed that the ICPC was also working with schools and youth groups to groom leaders who will do the right thing now and do the right thing tomorrow.

“We do this by partnering with civil society organisations such as the Summit organizers with the hope that we will build a society that is free from all forms of corruption and corrupt practices. That is the ICPC vision.
“The ICPC mandate speaks to enforcement of sanctions against corrupt leaders, prevention of corruption so that those in positions of authority are not tempted or pressured to be corrupt and mobilising the public to join in fighting corruption and holding leaders accountable. This informs the interest of ICPC in attending this Summit,” she said.

The ICPC’s image-maker said the Commission appreciates the partnership of Do The Right Thing for the Less privileged and Youth Foundation which recently registered to become a member of the National Anti-Corruption Coalition, an NGOs working with ICPC.
Ogugua, added that ICPC encourages all civil society organisations working in the area of anti-corruption and good governance to register with it in other scale up the campaign against corruption.

While welcoming participants at the Summit, Nwadiora the country could drive positive change and foster ethical leadership if we can champion the cause of doing the right thing in every facet of our lives.
“Together, we can drive positive change, foster ethical leadership, and champion the cause of doing the right thing in every facet of our lives.

“By arming ourselves with knowledge, compassion, and the will to act, we can truly transform lives and societies,” he added.