By JOHN NWOKOCHA, Abuja

A report has indicted 74 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government for non-compliance with a legally approved corruption prevention measures. In its 2022EICS

The report which is an outcome of an annual integrity and transparent assessment by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) went on and made a startling revelation about how the 74 MDAs flouted regulations without consequences.

Indicted by the report are the National Library, National Council for Arts and Culture, among others.

“Perpetual refusal of some MDAs to respond to the deployment due to non -consequence nature of the exercise. eg National Library, National Council for Arts and Culture that are Non-responsive for 2years concurrently”, declares the report.

The figure represents 28.46 per cent of 260 MDAs assessed by the Commission. This is contained in a report called Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS) and obtained by News Express in Abuja.

The assessment of a total of 260 MDAs was unveiled in the EICS 2022 Report.

Recall that 360 MDAs currently exist. However, moves are being made to merge some MDAs to reduce duplication of functions and streamline the workforce of government for efficiency.

Findings by News Express reveal that top government officials in the MDAs flagrantly snub the statutory Act therefore, slowing down the fight against graft in public offices, by their refusal to align with the integrity measures. The MDAs run without clean sheets of corruption records, News Express can report.

It was learnt that EICS was first deployed in 2015. But it was gathered that directive was not allowed to achieve its objectives by top government officials, by their non- compliance. It is said that the EICS is crucial to stopping corruption in the country if the officials play their role.

Further findings indicate that a pilot deployment was made in 2016 in 25 MDAs. The second deployment was in 2019 in 280 MDAs. The third deployment was in 2020 in 352 MDAs.

The fourth deployment was in 2021 in 360 MDAs. In the exercise, 301 MDAs responded and were analysed.

For the 2022 the exercise was deployed in 360 MDAs. 260 MDAs responded and analyzed.

The 74 MDAs the report stated, do not have what Systems experts call Anti-Corruption & Transparency Units (ACTUs) in place.

ACTUs is required by ICPC for strengthening organizational ethics and integrity culture and standards compliance in MDAs.

Furthermore, the process ensures an organization and employees follow laws, regulations, standards and ethical practices.

The report indicated further that this figure of 74 is also inclusive of MDAs who have ACTUs but failed to respond on the AEI during the deployment.

Analysis of the Sub-Indicators under Administrative Systems shows that 142 MDAs (54.62%) scored below average under the Ethics and Compliance Education; 218 MDAs (83.85%) scored below average under Complaints and Whistleblowing; 185 MDAs (71.15%) scored below average under Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) support. These sub-indicators are the main drivers of anti-corruption policies in MDAs.

211 MDAs (81.15%) do not encourage or support System Study/Corruption Risk Assessment in line with ACTU and ICPC mandate to prevent corruption in MDAs.

204 MDAs (78.46%) do not have a whistle-blowing policy and 74 MDAs (28.46%) do not have officers and dedicated channels for corruption reportage. Lack of viable whistleblowing channels does not aid an effective fight against corruption

101 MDAs (38.85%) did not procure external auditors in line with the Public Procurement Act 2007.

86 MDAs (33.08%) and 109 MDAs (41.92%) did not conduct annual needs assessments and market surveys respectively in contravention of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007

25 MDAs (9.62%) do not have a legal instrument backing up the establishment of such organisations.

129 MDAs (49.62%) did not respond timely to requests from stakeholders.

100 MDAs (38.46%) do not have domesticated/professional codes of conduct/ethics with sanctions and 117 MDAs (45.00%) do not have a reward system in place consistent with the requirements of the core values.

Responding to a question on whether some punitive measures can be taken to make officials to comply, ICPC senior System officer, Clement Obaniyi of the System Study And Review Department, said “NOT PUNITIVE in nature but refusal to be assessed is a red flag”.

The EICS is one of the Commission's corruption preventive tools.

It is a tool for comparison of the same MDA over a period or between MDAs to check the effect/impact of systems on the operations and performance of such MDAs.

The tool measures institutional integrity and accountability in MDAs.

It is hinged on three key indicators namely, Management Culture & Structure; Financial Management System; and Administrative Systems.

The Score Card is designed in form of a questionnaire which is administered on an MDA by the ICPC.

The Score Card creates a platform for comparing and analysing the weakness that make MDAs susceptible to corruption.

Responding to a question by News Express, ICPC senior Systems officer said “NOT PUNITIVE in nature but refusal to be assessed is a red flag”.

ICPC was established by the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences ACT 2000, signed into law on June 13, 2000. The Act covers infractions in public office, by public officials and their proxies.

The Act specifically stipulated a three-pronged mandate. These mandates are, Enforcement (Investigation and Prosecution); Prevention (Identifying and Reviewing Skewed Systems for integrity and efficiency); and Education --Enlightening and mobilizing the public against corruption.

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