The Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit of the Nigeria Football Federation, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Tuesday held a sensitization seminar for senior staff of the Nigeria Football Federation, under the theme “Imbibing Ethics and Integrity Principles in Efficient Service Delivery”. The sub-topics were ‘Entrenching Ethics and Integrity Principles in the Work Place” and “An Overview of the National Ethics and Integrity Policy.”

Mrs Mutiat Musa, a deputy director in the System Study and Review Department of ICPC, who spoke on “Entrenching Ethics and Integrity Principles in the Work Place,” highlighted the importance of ethical conduct in public service, and maintained that if each officer, in his/her own little corner opts to be ethical and live a life of integrity, the world will be a much better place to inhabit. She pointed out that much guidance on ethical conduct for public officers can be drawn from the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, Public Services Rules, Circulars, Financial Regulations, ICPC Act 2000, EFCC Act 2004, Public Procurement Act 2007, Money Laundering Act 2011 and various institutional instruments that are for the purpose of keeping the public officer on the straight-and-narrow.

She contended that living a life of integrity is more important than any other thing, as this ensures that even when people are not watching, you are able to conduct yourself ethically and with discipline and dignity.

Adogo Alonyenu, of the same department, spoke on “An Overview of the National Ethics and Integrity Policy,” asserting that the National Ethics and Integrity draws its contents from various legal instruments such as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the ICPC Act 2000, the National Orientation Act and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption 2003.

NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi declared the seminar open, stating that the NFF will continue to give robust support to the work of the Anti-Corruption Transparency Unit of the NFF, encouraged by the great improvement in the Federation’s index rating by the ICPC.

NFF’s ACTU chairman, Barr. Okey Obi (also the Director of Legal Services) made the opening remarks, in which he noted that this is the third sensitization seminar for NFF’s staff since Mr. Larry Abuo became the NFF’s ACTU Desk Officer in the ICPC, and commended the latter’s energy, forthrightness and dedication to the assignment.

Also at the seminar were NFF Deputy General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme; Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire; Ag. Director of Competitions, Ruth David and; other top officials of the NFF who were participants.