RMAFC Tasks New Officers on Integrity, Accountability
By Patience Ikpeme
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has charged its newly recruited officers to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency and accountability in handling public responsibilities, warning that corruption goes beyond taking bribes or diverting government funds.
The Commission said its constitutional role in Nigeria’s fiscal governance makes ethical conduct particularly important, as decisions taken by its officials can affect public resources and the wider interest of the country.
RMAFC Chairman, Dr. Muhammed Bello Shehu, gave the charge at the opening of a five-day sensitisation and capacity-building workshop organised by the Commission’s Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) for newly recruited officers at the headquarters and state offices in the North-West geopolitical zone.
The programme is being organised in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Represented at the opening ceremony by the Federal Commissioner representing Kwara State and Provost of ACTU, Ismail Muhammed Agaka, Shehu said public officers must understand that integrity is not simply an idea to be discussed at workshops but a standard that must guide their everyday decisions and conduct.
He said the constitutional responsibilities assigned to RMAFC placed it at an important point in the country’s fiscal management system, making competence, diligence and honesty essential qualities for its officers.
According to him, public confidence in government institutions is built when officials carry out their duties honestly, transparently and responsibly and always act in the interest of Nigerians.
“Every decision we take, every public resource we handle and every official process we undertake must withstand the tests of legality, accountability, fairness and transparency,” he said.
Shehu also told the new officers that the responsibility for fighting corruption should not be left to ACTU or ICPC, saying every public servant has a role to play in preventing practices that could undermine government institutions.
He explained that corruption could take several forms apart from bribery and the diversion of public funds.
These, he said, include abuse of office, conflicts of interest, favouritism, manipulation of official processes and the deliberate refusal to comply with established rules and procedures.
The RMAFC chairman therefore urged the officers to develop a workplace culture where integrity is reflected in their professional decisions, dealings with colleagues and interactions with members of the public.
“As officers of the Commission, we must be above reproach. Let integrity guide our decisions, accountability define our actions, and service to the Nation remain our overriding commitment,” he said.
He urged the participants to make effective use of the five-day programme by learning from the resource persons, actively participating in the sessions and applying the knowledge acquired to improve their conduct and service delivery.
Shehu also advised the officers to regard the programme as an important foundation for their careers in the public service and to demonstrate humility, mutual respect and professionalism in their dealings with others.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of RMAFC’s ACTU, Dr. Idris Musa, also called on the new officers to regard the fight against corruption as a shared responsibility.
Musa said every decision taken by a public officer should be guided by integrity and accountability, warning that misconduct by individual officials could damage the reputation of entire government institutions.
He specifically cautioned the participants against abuse of office, conflicts of interest, favouritism, manipulation of official processes and deliberate disregard for established rules and procedures.
The ACTU chairman further urged the officers to maintain transparency and accountability in the management of public resources and in the execution of their official duties.
He said public officers must continually conduct themselves in ways that justify the confidence Nigerians place in government institutions.
Also speaking, the ICPC representative, Dr. Anike Adeshina, Assistant Director, Public Education, said the workshop formed part of the broader anti-corruption efforts of the Federal Government.
She said the programme was designed to introduce the newly recruited officers to the principles of ethical and responsible public service from the beginning of their careers.
Adeshina said the participants were expected to gain a better understanding of the need to conduct government business in line with existing laws, regulations, procedures and ethical standards.
She added that the programme would help the officers appreciate their responsibility to protect integrity within the workplace and reject practices that conflict with the standards expected of public servants.
The ICPC representative commended the RMAFC chairman for organising the programme and working with the anti-corruption agency to strengthen ethical standards within the Commission.
The workshop, according to the statement issued by RMAFC Head of Information and Public Relations, Maryam Umar Yusuf, forms part of the Commission’s wider institutional efforts to promote legality, accountability, transparency and due process in the public service.
