By Aisha Gambo
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), says it has trained its personnel to promote revenue integrity, institutional accountability and effective internal controls.
The five-day capacity building programme organised by the commission’s Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), aimed at strengthening governance, controls and institutional integrity through anti-corruption and audit excellence.
Inaugurating the exercise on Monday in Kaduna, Chairman of the commission, Muhammad Shehu, said that the constitutional responsibilities entrusted to the commission placed it at the centre of Nigeria’s fiscal governance that required an uncompromised commitment to integrity.
Represented by Ismail Agaka, Federal Commissioner representing Kwara State, Shehu charged the officers to uphold transparency, accountability, fairness and integrity in the discharge of their duties.
He warned against abuse of office, conflict of interest, favouritism, manipulation of official processes and deliberate disregard for established rules.
“The fight against corruption is not the responsibility of ACTU or Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) alone. It is a personal and institutional responsibility.
“Every decision we take, every process we manage, and every official conduct we undertake must withstand the test of integrity, accountability, fairness and transparency,” he said.
Cross Section of participants at RMAFC capacity building exercise in Kaduna
Shehu highlighted that corruption should not be viewed only in terms of financial bribes or misappropriation of funds, but it could also manifest through actions that undermined established procedures and public trust.
He urged the participants to take advantage of the exercise by engaging the resource persons, and applying the knowledge gained in their routine assignments to enhance service delivery.
The chairman said that personnel of the commission must be “persons above reproach,” stressing that integrity should guide their decisions, while accountability should define their actions.
Earlier, Dr Idris Musa, Director, Audit and Chairman of the ACTU, said that the programme underscored the unit’s commitment towards ensuring integrity, transparency and accountability embedded in the commission’s operations.
Yusuf enjoined the participants to cascade the knowledge gained and resist practices undermining due process.
“Our conduct must always justify the public trust reposed in us,” he said.
Musa lauded the management of the commission and ICPC for its support and partnership in promoting integrity and accountability in public service.
Some of the participants commended the exercise, adding that it would strengthen integrity, transparency and accountability in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Ms Nabila Abubakar, a staff member of the Kaduna State Directorate of RMAFC, said that she gained useful knowledge that would help strengthen integrity in the organisation.
Abubakar said the programme would also enhance public visibility and awareness of the activities of the organisation.
According to Abubakar, improved public visibility is important in promoting integrity and encouraging staff to understand how to identify and tackle abuse of office and other anti graft practices.
She said the lessons learnt would help the participants to apply the principles of integrity and accountability in their respective areas of responsibility.
Another participant, Aminu Imam, identified accountability, transparency and integrity as key principles that guide the operations of public institutions.
Imam underscored the importance of the three principles in the commission’s responsibilities in revenue mobilisation, collection and the promotion of fiscal efficiency.
He said that effective application of the principles would ensure proper management of public funds and promote value for money.
“The knowledge and experience gained from the training will contribute toward improving the performance of staff and strengthen the effectiveness of the commission,” Imam said.
The exercise was attended by personnel of the commission in the North-West zone. (NAN)
Edited by Yakubu Uba