The Abia State Government has inaugurated the State Strategy for Integrity, Accountability and Anti-Corruption Steering Committee, directing members to immediately commence implementation of the state’s anti-corruption framework.
The committee was inaugurated on Wednesday in Umuahia by the Head of Service, Benson Ojeikere, who described the move as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to strengthening integrity and accountability across the public service.
Mr Ojeikere stated that members were selected based on their strategic roles and capacity to drive implementation of the state’s anti-corruption agenda.
According to him, the committee, made up mainly of permanent secretaries and senior government officials, will provide policy direction, monitor implementation progress, address emerging challenges and ensure that the objectives of the State Strategy for Integrity, Accountability and Anti-Corruption are achieved.
He urged members to carry out their responsibilities with professionalism and commitment.
“The success of this initiative will strengthen public confidence in government institutions, improve service delivery and further promote transparency in governance,” he said.
Mr Ojeikere expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to deepen accountability and strengthen governance structures across the state.
Justice ministry backs initiative
Speaking at the inauguration, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna (SAN), represented by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Paul Ogubunka, described corruption as one of the major challenges affecting public service delivery.
Mr Uwanna said building a prosperous and accountable Abia requires a strong foundation of integrity.
“If we are to take the issue of corruption seriously and build the Abia of our dreams as envisioned by Governor Alex Otti, then we must lay a strong foundation of integrity. You cannot build a skyscraper on a weak foundation, and integrity remains the cornerstone of everything this initiative stands for,” he said.
He added that the validation process had already been completed and called for sustained engagement to establish stronger accountability mechanisms.
Programme implementation
Earlier, the State Programme Coordinator of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme, Peter Omenka, described the steering committee as the state’s policy compass for integrity and accountability.
Mr Omenka explained that the programme is supported by the European Union and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance to strengthen the rule of law, improve access to justice and promote transparency across public institutions.
He said Abia remains among the newest beneficiaries of the initiative and stressed the importance of strong oversight structures.
“Without strong oversight, Abia’s anti-corruption agenda remains a document; it has no life. With your leadership, it becomes action,” he stated.
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