PTAD inaugurates anti-corruption unit to boost operational transparency

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has inaugurated the reconstituted Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) to enhance transparency in its operations.

The Executive Secretary of PTAD, Dr Chioma Ejikeme, during the inauguration in Abuja on Wednesday said that the directorate needed to inaugurate the unit because it handled public funds.

Ejikeme said, “As an organisation that handles public funds, the need for transparency and accountability in our activities to engender public confidence, especially those of our stakeholders is a sine qua non.

“The ACTU has the responsibility to perform duties as enshrined in the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Act 2000.

“To ensure good governance, this will help the directorate and those who run it to continue to retain the trust of pensioners.

”In PTAD, we are  committed to ensuring the integrity of PTAD’s pension administration system so that pensioners bare rest assured that their entitlements will be processed and paid accurately, fully and on time.”

She said that the ACTU was expected to be the directorate’s watchdog in ensuring the maintenance of zero tolerance to fraud.

The Chairman of ICPC, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, in his remark said that the event added to the effort of the directorate in promoting and entrenching values of integrity, accountability and transparency.

Owasanoye was represented by Mr Demola Bakare, Deputy Director and Head, System Study Division, ICPC.

“The ACTU of this directorate has always been a source of pride to the commission because of its past activities and achievements.

“And no doubt that the newly reconstituted unit, after this inauguration will carry on this positive legacy.

“The unit fared well in areas of monitoring and investigations to eliminate pension scam. Going forward, the ACTU is advised to also prioritise other duties like the conducting of systems study.

“And review into processes and procedures of the directorate. As well as constant sensitization of staff against the ills of corruption in the workplace which are still part of the preventive mechanism for which the ACTU was set up.

“For the ACTU to continue to achieve this giant stride, I implore the management not to relent in its support to the unit by continuing to provide a conducive environment for the unit to function.

“Provision of funds and office accommodation as well as incorporating its members in various standing committees as provided for in the extant circular of government,” he said.

Owasanoye said that the ACTU was not established to displace management; rather, the unit would complement management’s effort in promoting the corporation’s core values.

The chairman said that the ACTU would also examine systems, processes and procedures prone to corruption and proffering solutions, develop and review code of ethics for staff and ensure compliance with same.

“The ACTU  will also, monitor budget implementation of the corporation, implementation of the Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard and undertaking preliminary investigations into complaints/reports received amongst others, ‘’he said.

Owasanoye urged the appointed members to work hard, be above board, be responsible and responsive in the exercise of their functions and avoid any questionable act, saying that “remember, he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.”

Responding, the newly inaugurated chairman of the unit, Mrs Ada Phil-Ugochukwu, said her team would synergise with relevant departments to ensure that PTAD continued to remain an agency with zero tolerance to fraud. (NAN)