The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have pledged to deepen collaboration in tackling corruption, promoting transparency and strengthening public confidence in the social security agency.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive of NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, made the commitment during the inauguration of the Fund’s Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) in Abuja.
Faleye said the inauguration marked a renewed commitment to building an institution anchored on integrity, accountability and public trust.
Welcoming an ICPC delegation to the Fund, he described the commission as a partner in promoting compliance and institutional reforms, commending its efforts to support transparency and good governance.
“It has truly been a long day coming. We have been at this for a bit, and I am glad we have finally found a way to do this,” he said.
Faleye noted that the presence of the ICPC delegation reflected the collaborative relationship between the two organisations. He said that, rather than viewing the commission’s involvement with apprehension, NSITF considered collaboration an opportunity to learn, improve and strengthen its operations.
He said both agencies shared a commitment to transparency, accountability and ethical conduct in public service, adding that the ACTU’s inauguration represented more than a formal exercise.
“It is one where integrity guides our conduct, accountability defines our actions, and public trust remains central,” Faleye said, describing the institution NSITF aims to become.
The NSITF chief also reassured staff that the unit was not established to victimise employees or create an atmosphere of intimidation. Instead, he said, its primary purpose was to prevent wrongdoing and encourage collaboration.
“There is really no cause for concern. It is not a witch-hunt, 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 said.
He urged employees to regard the ACTU as a partner in promoting ethical conduct and encouraged unit members to create an environment where colleagues could comfortably share information and report suspected wrongdoing.
Faleye also highlighted the importance of appointing anti-corruption champions across NSITF’s regional and branch offices, noting that extending the initiative beyond the headquarters was essential because much of the Fund’s operational work takes place at those levels.
He stressed that preventing corruption was the responsibility of every employee, regardless of rank.
In his address, ICPC Chairman Musa Adamu Aliyu described the inauguration as an important step towards strengthening integrity and accountability within the Fund.
Aliyu said ACTUs, established through collaboration between the ICPC and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, serve as internal mechanisms for identifying systemic weaknesses, reducing corruption risks, promoting ethical behaviour and improving compliance.
He emphasised that the unit was intended to complement management rather than compete with it or assume its responsibilities.
“It is important to emphasise that ACTU is complementary unit to Management. Its role is not to compete with or replace Management but to support and strengthen Fund’s efforts,” Aliyu said.
He urged NSITF management to provide the unit with an enabling environment, adequate funding and office facilities. He also recommended that ACTU representatives be included in relevant committees and that the ICPC be invited to observe recruitment, promotion and procurement exercises.
Members of the newly inaugurated unit pledged to carry out their responsibilities with diligence, objectivity and professionalism.
The acting chairperson of the NSITF ACTU, Udoka Mirian Otti, said the fight against corruption required the collective commitment of all employees.
She added that, as an institution responsible for providing social security through the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, NSITF must ensure that its processes reflect fairness, transparency and accountability.
