ICPC Officers Charged to Amplify the Message of the National Ethics and Integrity Policy

Officers of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have been charged to amplify the message of the National Ethics and Integrity Policy (NEIP) with a view to bringing about positive behavioural change in the society.

This charge was given by the Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Clifford O. Oparaodu, while giving his opening remarks at a one-day hybrid sensitization session to train ICPC officers on the NEIP and the Communications Policy of the Commission.

Mr. Oparaodu, who spoke through the Acting Director, Administration and Human Resources Department, Mr. Samuel Lodam, stated that the NEIP seeks to rejuvenate our nation’s eroded values, a task which the Commission has been driving vigorously following the approval of the Federal Executive Council in August 2020.

According to him, “I must state that the policy is indeed a people-driven one and must be continually amplified as it is necessary for the success of such government policies.

‘’Hence the need for this sensitisation workshop arose out of the need to deepen the understanding of staff on what we have been taking out there to MDAs, stakeholders and various publics.”

Speaking on the Communication Policy, Mr. Okparaodu described the policy as “very important in the sense that all staff need to be guided by its content”.

“It is my opinion that these two documents have great potential in strategically positioning staff for increased effectiveness in the discharge of official duties”, he concluded.

Earlier in her welcome remarks, the Spokesperson for the Commission and the Acting Director of Public Enlightenment and Education Department, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, fnipr said ICPC has been doing a lot of work in cascading the content of the NEIP to every facet of the Nigerian society.
Mrs. Ogugua revealed that over 21 states have received the messages of the policy in different forms including workshops, skits, animations etc.

In her words, “As officers of the Commission you need to take ownership of the NEIP and help in propagating it using different platforms”.

She also charged staff to take the communication policy seriously as it is a necessity for how to communicate both internally and externally.

Presenting a paper on “The Seven Core Values of the NEIP”, the Head of the Education Division, Mr. John Odey stated that the NEIP was meant to rejuvenate a spirit of positive moral standard both at the national and individual levels.

“Put the Nigerian state first, put ICPC first as officers in all that you do as that shows and even proves your patriotism”, he said.

The second lead paper for the day was delivered by Mr. Obinna Oforah, an Assistant Director in the PE&E Department of ICPC on the topic “The ICPC’s Communications Policy: Intent, Adherence and Impact”.

He stressed that “only authorized persons are allowed formal engagement with internal and external stakeholders including speaking to the press on behalf of the Commission”

The presentations were followed by two robust panel discussions moderated by Mrs. Anike Adeshina and Mr. Femi Gold respectively. Panelists for the first session were Mr. Ahmed Abdul, Mr. Jimoh Sulahiman, and Mrs. Ese Okwong, while panelists for the second session were Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, Mr. Godwin Basheru and Mrs. Hauwa Sani Garba.