The Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Ikole-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has inaugurated its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) in an effort to enhance accountability, transparency, and combat corruption in the public service.
The ACTU, originally established in 2001, collaborates with the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
It will serve as the internal regulatory mechanism to undertake periodic sensitisation of staff on and against corruption, examine systems, processes and procedures that are prone to corruption and proffer solutions and ensure compliance.
The Medical Director of FMC Ikole, Professor Dare Ogunlusi, in his speech on the occasion, said the unit was put together to build a transparent and corruption-free community and described the transparency unit as a potent antidote to the menace of corruption.
Professor Ogunlusi, who was represented at the event by Dr. Babajide Rosiji, said although there had been mechanism on ground to tackle corruption with the establishment of a Compliance Unit in the heath facility, which he said was meant to ensure strict adherence to extant rules; the essence of the transparency unit was ‘to fix the broken systems that allows corruption to fester while also encouraging them to brace up for the task ahead.’
He said: ‘One of my visions and goals as the medical director of this centre is to build a centre where every penny that comes in is judiciously spent for the purpose it was meant for to ensure transparent and accountable use of government resources.
‘There is nowhere in this hospital today where any individual is permitted to receive payment from patients in cash or into personal accounts. The only authorised payment receiving authorities are the payment points in the OPD and the account section.
‘Your job is clear and uncompromising. You must look into every corner without fear or favour, regardless of the office or influence held by those involved, to forestall the tendency to divert public funds.’
Representative of the Chairman of ICPC, Tiku Andrew, while delivering Dr Musa Adamu Aliu’s goodwill message, thanked the FMC management for inaugurating the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), noting that creating the unit affirmed the outright commitment of the institution in domesticating the anti-corruption crusade.
He said: ‘The ACTU initiative is not intended to undermine the authority of management but rather to complement it, especially in bringing about a positive anti-corruption culture in the MDAs.’
He also charged the newly inaugurated members to justify the trust reposed in them and discharge their duties effectively.
The legal officer of the ICPC, Kehinde Adetoye, performed the swearing-in and administered the oath on the newly inaugurated ACTU members.
Members of the ACTU are: Dr Onjefu Stephen, Chairman; Mr Fatodun Adebayo, Vice Chairman; Mrs Kehinde Yinka, Secretary; Mrs Adeosun Florence Oluwafunmilayo; and Badmus Babatunde Ayodeji are members.
Speaking on behalf of the committee, Onjefu promised not to disappoint and would not defeat the purpose for which they were inaugurated, while also thanking members of staff and management of the FMC for the trust reposed in them.