Joyce Mmereole Okoli
In a concerted effort to deepen transparency and strengthen ethical standards within the public sector, the Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, in partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), hosted a training lecture on Transparency and Accountability in Public Service.
The event, held at the Command Headquarters, brought together customs officers from various units, as well as representatives of the ICPC and the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU). The interactive session aimed to reinforce values of integrity, discipline, and openness across government agencies.
Comptroller Frank Onyeka, Customs Area Controller, welcomed participants and reiterated the Service’s zero tolerance for corruption. “Discipline, transparency, and accountability are non-negotiable values in our operations,” he stated, highlighting existing mechanisms within the Nigeria Customs Service to identify and penalize unethical conduct.
The session began with a preamble from Assistant Comptroller Owoniyi, ACTU Coordinator for Customs Zone A, who emphasized the unit’s ongoing efforts to promote a culture of integrity within the Service.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Mrs. Mary Omonoyan of the ICPC’s Public Enlightenment and Education Department underscored the importance of transparency in public administration. She stressed that trust in public institutions hinges on ethical conduct and openness.
In her address, Dr. Florence Bari, Deputy Director of Operations at the ICPC’s Lagos office, spotlighted issues such as lateness to duty and irregularities in public procurement. She urged officers to uphold professional standards, warning that corruption erodes the effectiveness of public service and damages institutional reputation.
The lecture concluded with an interactive segment where officers exchanged views and proposed strategies for improving transparency and accountability in their respective departments.