The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) have pledged to deepen collaboration in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance in Nigeria’s basic education sector.
ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, made this known when he received the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, and her management team on a courtesy visit to the ICPC headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting, described as a long-awaited step toward institutional synergy, aims to strengthen oversight, improve service delivery, and ensure efficient utilization of public funds meant for basic education.
Dr. Aliyu commended UBEC’s leadership and commitment to providing free and quality education for Nigerian children. He reaffirmed ICPC’s dedication to promoting integrity through preventive measures, education, and system reviews, beyond its traditional enforcement role.
Highlighting the Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI), the ICPC Chairman said the project has been instrumental in monitoring UBEC-funded projects nationwide, ensuring value for money and transparency in implementation.
“Our collaboration will ensure that resources meant for educational development are judiciously used for the benefit of Nigerian children,” Dr. Aliyu stated, adding that ICPC would work with UBEC to strengthen internal controls and reduce leakages in the system.
In her remarks, Dr. Aisha Garba reaffirmed UBEC’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, revealing that the Commission has set up Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs) across its offices to entrench ethical conduct and integrity in operations.
She disclosed that UBEC recently achieved full compliance with the Public Procurement Act following a procurement audit by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), adding that all staff have subscribed to a Code of Transparency to ensure accountability at all levels.
Describing the partnership with ICPC as “strategic and essential,” Dr. Aisha said UBEC looks forward to technical support from the anti-graft agency in strengthening anti-corruption frameworks across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The meeting concluded with a joint commitment to formalize the collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s educational resources and promoting integrity in governance.
Signed:
Demola Bakare, fsi
Director, Public Enlightenment and Education / Spokesperson, ICPC
