The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has urged the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to involve it as an observer in recruitment, promotion and procurement exercises to strengthen transparency and public confidence.

The ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, made the call during the inauguration of the NSITF Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) and its regional and branch champions at the Fund’s headquarters in Abuja.

Aliyu also urged NSITF management to provide adequate funding, office facilities, and representation on relevant standing committees to enable the unit to discharge its mandate effectively.

He described the inauguration as an important step towards strengthening the Fund’s internal mechanisms for promoting integrity, transparency and accountability.

The ICPC chairman explained that the commission and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation established ACTUs to identify systemic weaknesses, mitigate corruption risks, promote ethical conduct, and improve compliance with established rules and procedures. He stressed that the unit was designed to complement management, not compete with or replace it.

Aliyu congratulated the newly inaugurated members and urged them to discharge their responsibilities with diligence, integrity, impartiality and professionalism.

He warned them against relationships or actions that could compromise their independence and credibility, assuring them of the commission’s continued support in strengthening governance within the Fund.

Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, described the inauguration as a renewed commitment to building an institution anchored on integrity, accountability and public trust.
Faleye said the initiative was not intended to witch-hunt staff but to promote preventive measures that would help the organisation avoid administrative lapses and corruption risks.

“There is really no cause for concern. It is not a witch-hunt, nor 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 staff to see the ACTU as a partner in institutional improvement. He encouraged its members to create an environment where colleagues could freely share information and report suspected wrongdoing.

Faleye said the unit’s credibility would ultimately depend on its practical contribution to improving the Fund’s integrity and accountability, rather than its formal establishment.

He added that appointing regional and branch champions would extend anti-corruption advocacy beyond headquarters, noting that much of the Fund’s operations take place at its regional and branch offices.

The NSITF managing director maintained that preventing corruption was a collective responsibility involving every employee, regardless of rank.

“Every staff member has a duty to uphold established procedures, protect public resources and act in the best interest of the institution,” he said.

He assured ACTU members of management’s commitment to strengthening internal controls, encouraging ethical conduct, and leading by example.

Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated members, the Deputy General Manager, General Administration Services, at the NSITF Abuja Regional Office, Mrs Asma’u Mohammed, pledged to discharge their duties with diligence, objectivity, fairness, courage and professionalism.

Mohammed said the unit would work with management, staff, and relevant stakeholders to strengthen ethical standards, promote transparency, and reinforce safeguards needed for effective service delivery.

She described the inauguration of regional and branch champions as an important step towards extending integrity advocacy across the Fund’s offices.

Also speaking, the Acting Chairperson of the NSITF ACTU, Mrs Udoka Mirian Otti, said the fight against corruption required commitment from all employees.

Otti noted that the Fund’s responsibility to provide social security protection to Nigerian workers and their dependants under the Employees’ Compensation Scheme made fairness, accountability, and responsible administration essential to its operations.