NSC INAUGURATES ANTI-CORRUPTION UNIT, PLEDGES TO WORK WITH ICPC

The National Sports Commission has inaugurated an anti-corrution unit in its response to the Federal Government's anti- corruption campaign in recent time.

At the inauguration of the unit yesterday in Abuja, the Director General of NSC, Chief Doctor Patrick Ekeji, recalled that the unit was concieved in 2003, saying that it cuts across the various departments, units and other relevant areas of service as stipulated in the operation of ICPC. According to him, the unit was issued with specific terms of reference in line with the the peculiar functions, duties and responsibity of the NSC.

Among other things in the unit's area of jurisdiction, are examining and giving account of procedures, proceeds and revenue generation at all stadia under the control of government.To advise on ways to curb fraud in the finacial management and where, in the opinion of the unit, certain proceedures aid or facilitate corruption.

To organize seminars lectures, workshops, to sensitize staff on anti-corruption crudsade of government. Also in its area of concern are investigating repoted cases of corruption and making appropriate recommendation of applicable sanctions against defaulters, as well as serving as link between the NSC and the ICPC.

Dr. Ekeji, further said that the unit is, however, engendered by staff movement, retirement from service and re-deployment of staff from the commission, but was depleted which invariably affected the operation of the unit in the commission.

He said that to sustain the tempo, of the crusde, it is necessary that the anti-corrupt unit should be re-vitalised and be given a sense of direction.”This will not only re-awaken the consciousness of the staff and, indeed, other stakeholders in sports, all parastatals such as the NFA, NPL,and NIS on the need to re-dedicate our efforts at ensuring tht the tenets of tranparency and accountability are upheld, it will go a long way in instilling the much desired principles of prudence in the management of the public fund enthrusted to us”.