The Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Mr Oluwaseun Faleye, has said the inauguration of the Fund’s Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) underscores management’s renewed commitment to integrity, accountability and public trust.
Faleye stated this in Abuja during the inauguration of the NSITF ACTU and its regional and branch champions at the Fund’s headquarters.
He described the inauguration as a significant step towards strengthening institutional transparency and promoting ethical conduct, while emphasising that the unit was established to prevent corruption rather than witch-hunt staff.
Welcoming a delegation of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), led on behalf of its chairman, Faleye commended the commission for its role in promoting compliance and supporting institutional reforms within the Fund.
He described the ICPC as a friend of the NSITF, noting that collaboration between the two agencies would help strengthen accountability and improve service delivery.
According to him, the inauguration represents more than a formal exercise, as it reflects the type of institution the Fund seeks to build.
“For us at NSITF, today’s inauguration is much more than a formal exercise. It is really a renewed commitment to the kind of institution we want NSITF to be.
One where integrity guides our conduct, accountability defines our actions, and public trust remains central,” he said.
Faleye allayed concerns among staff that the unit could be used to victimise employees, explaining that its primary responsibility was to identify risks, promote compliance and prevent mistakes that could undermine the institution.
“There is really no cause for concern. It is not a witch-hunt, it is not an investigative or interrogative process. It is rather a collaborative process that guides us from making mistakes we will regret down the line,” he stated.
He urged employees to see the ACTU as a partner in promoting good governance and encouraged its members to create an environment where colleagues could freely share information and report suspected wrongdoing.
The NSITF chief executive charged the newly inaugurated members and champions to discharge their responsibilities with integrity, objectivity, courage and professionalism.
He added that the unit’s effectiveness would be measured by its impact on the Fund’s integrity rating rather than its mere existence.
Faleye said the deployment of regional and branch champions would extend anti-corruption advocacy beyond the headquarters, noting that a significant proportion of the Fund’s operations takes place at regional and branch offices.
He stressed that preventing corruption was a collective responsibility that required the commitment of every employee, regardless of rank.
“Every staff member has a duty to uphold established procedures, protect public resources and act in the best interest of the institution,” he said.
He assured that management would continue to strengthen internal controls, promote ethical behaviour and lead by example.
“Internal control, ethical behaviour, accountability will start from the top and go down the ranks. We are committed to providing the right leadership,” he added.
ACTU Members Pledge Commitment
Meanwhile, the newly inaugurated NSITF ACTU members have pledged to discharge their responsibilities with diligence, fairness, objectivity and professionalism to strengthen transparency and accountability in the organisation.
The members made the pledge through the Deputy General Manager, General Administration Services, at the NSITF Abuja Regional Office, Mrs Asma’u Mohammed, during the inauguration.
Mohammed expressed appreciation to the Fund’s management, particularly Faleye, for the confidence reposed in the members and the commitment to strengthening institutional integrity.
She also commended the ICPC leadership for its continued support and guidance in promoting accountability across public institutions.
According to her, the inauguration represents a renewed commitment to embedding transparency and ethical standards in the Fund’s operations.
She said the ACTU would play a vital role in identifying and mitigating corruption risks, encouraging compliance with established procedures and supporting management in promoting good governance.
Mohammed described the onboarding of regional and branch champions as an important initiative for extending integrity advocacy to all offices of the Fund.
She said the network would strengthen awareness, encourage ethical conduct and ensure that the principles of accountability were reflected in employees’ daily activities.
The ACTU members, she added, would work closely with management, staff and relevant stakeholders to reinforce ethical standards and institutional safeguards.
Mohammed stressed that the fight against corruption could not be left to the unit alone, noting that the success of the initiative depended on the collective commitment of all employees.
ICPC Seeks Stronger Internal Controls
In his remarks, ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, described the inauguration as a critical step towards strengthening integrity and accountability within the NSITF.
Aliyu said the initiative would reinforce the Fund’s internal mechanisms for promoting transparency, identifying systemic weaknesses and mitigating corruption risks.
He recalled that ACTUs were established by the ICPC in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and had evolved into a recognised anti-corruption platform within the public service.
According to him, the units are designed to promote ethical conduct, strengthen compliance with established rules and procedures, and address institutional vulnerabilities that could encourage corruption.
He noted that the initiative aligned with the NSITF’s vision of becoming Africa’s leading social security institution while contributing to social policy, economic empowerment and poverty alleviation.
The ICPC chairman emphasised that the ACTU was not intended to rival or replace management but to complement its efforts in promoting accountability and ethical practices.
“It is important to emphasise that the ACTU is a complementary unit to Management. Its role is not to compete with or replace the Management but to support and strengthen the Fund’s efforts in promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical practices,” he said.
Aliyu urged the NSITF management to provide the unit with an enabling environment, adequate funding, appropriate office facilities and representation on relevant standing committees.
He also encouraged the Fund to invite the ICPC to participate as an observer in promotion, recruitment and procurement exercises to enhance the credibility and transparency of such processes.
Congratulating the newly inaugurated members, he urged them to maintain independence, impartiality and professionalism in carrying out their duties.
He warned them against actions or relationships that could compromise their credibility or undermine the confidence reposed in them.
Aliyu reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the NSITF and supporting the ACTU in advancing good governance and national development.
ACTU Chairperson Calls for Collective Responsibility
Earlier, the Acting Chairperson of the NSITF ACTU, Mrs Udoka Mirian Otti, described the inauguration and onboarding of the unit’s champions as an important step towards deepening anti-corruption awareness within the Fund.
Otti said the fight against corruption required the active participation of every employee, stressing that integrity, transparency and accountability must remain central to the institution’s operations.
She noted that the NSITF, which provides social security protection to Nigerian workers and their dependants under the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, must ensure that its internal processes reflect fairness, responsibility and accountability.
The acting chairperson expressed appreciation to the ICPC for its continued guidance and collaboration, as well as the NSITF management for supporting efforts to strengthen ethical standards and transparency within the organisation.
