The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has warned staff of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to steer clear of corrupt practices or face the full weight of the law.
ICPC Commissioner for Rivers and Bayelsa states, Mrs. Ekere Usiere, issued the warning during the NDDC’s quarterly anti-corruption sensitisation workshop in Port Harcourt. She stressed that the NDDC plays a critical role in the region’s development and must maintain the highest standards of integrity.
“NDDC staff must distance themselves from corruption, as anybody caught will be prosecuted in accordance with the law,” she said, adding that regular sensitisation sessions would help employees understand the devastating impact of corruption and ways to prevent it.
Head of ICPC’s Legal Department in Rivers, Dr. Evans Peters, urged the NDDC to strengthen its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit and review processes vulnerable to abuse. He warned against contract inflation, awards without budgetary provisions, obstruction of investigations, and providing false information, noting that offenders could face prosecution, asset seizures, and jail terms.
NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, represented by Dr. James Fole, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to entrenching ethics, transparency, and diligence in its operations. He said the workshop formed part of a broader strategy to improve service delivery and maintain public trust in the agency’s work.
