The Federal Ministry of Education has inaugurated its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) Committee as part of efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability and ethical governance across the ministry and its agencies.
The inauguration, held in Abuja on Thursday, is in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to institutional integrity and effective public service delivery under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, described ACTU as a vital preventive mechanism for entrenching due process, promoting ethical conduct and ensuring compliance with public service regulations.
He said the Ministry, as the institution responsible for formulating and implementing national education policies, must uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and accountability to sustain public confidence and deliver quality education.
Enitan noted that corruption remains one of the greatest obstacles to national development, as it weakens institutions, diverts resources meant for education and erodes public trust.
He charged members of the newly inaugurated committee to carry out their responsibilities with courage, diligence, patriotism and impartiality by promoting ethical conduct, anti-corruption awareness, system reforms and compliance with existing regulations.
The Permanent Secretary also urged staff of the ministry to embrace its EPIC values of being Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-Centred, stressing that integrity remains the foundation for excellence in public service and quality education delivery. He assured the committee of management’s full support in implementing its mandate.
Representing the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Adamu Aliyu, ICPC official Olusegun Adigun commended the ministry for revitalising its ACTU, describing the move as a major milestone in strengthening its internal anti-corruption framework.
Adigun explained that ACTU, established through collaboration between the ICPC and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, serves as a preventive and advisory mechanism for promoting integrity and accountability in the public service.
He noted that although the ministry previously had an ACTU, its activities were not sustained, adding that the reconstituted committee would operate in line with the 2023 Standing Order for the Operation of ACTU in Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
According to him, the committee will spearhead anti-corruption sensitisation, ethics promotion, corruption risk assessments, system studies, budget implementation monitoring, promotion of the Ethics and Integrity Pledge, as well as preliminary investigations into complaints relating to unethical conduct.
Earlier, the Director of Special Duties, Murtala Tanko, described the inauguration as a demonstration of the ministry’s commitment to institutionalising transparency, preventing corruption and promoting ethical standards across its departments, agencies and schools.
He urged committee members to support management in improving service delivery through strict adherence to public service rules and standard operating procedures.
Responding on behalf of the committee, its Chairman, Malik Guni Kuje, thanked the ministry for the confidence reposed in members and pledged transparent, accountable and collaborative leadership.
Kuje said the committee would strengthen preventive measures against corruption through continuous sensitisation, policy reviews and strict compliance with public service rules and ICPC guidelines, while working to make the Federal Ministry of Education a model of integrity and accountability in Nigeria’s public service.
The event also featured the administration of the Oath of Allegiance on members of the committee, symbolising the ministry’s renewed commitment to institutional excellence, ethical governance and transparent management of public resources in advancing quality education for Nigerians.
