ICPC Establishes an Anti-Corruption Unit within FIRS to Combat Unethical Practices

Olufemi Adeyemi 

ICPC has established an Anti-Corruption Unit within the FIRS to combat unethical practices and promote integrity in tax administration.

L-R, Chief of Staff to the chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Tayo Koleosho; Coordinating Director, Support Services Group, M.L Abubakar; and representative of the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Director, System Study and Review of ICPC, Mr Olusegun Adigun, handing copies of anti-corruption manual to FIRS management representatives during the inauguration of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) at the Revenue House in Abuja on Tuesday.

In a bid to reinforce transparency and accountability in the tax collection processes at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Chairman Zacch Adedeji has established a 12-member Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU). This unit is tasked with enforcing a strict policy against unethical behavior and corruption within the agency responsible for revenue collection.

The unit, which will work in conjunction with anti-corruption agencies, was officially inaugurated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) at the Revenue House in Abuja on Tuesday.

During the inauguration, Adedeji, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Tayo Koleosho, encouraged the newly appointed members of the anti-corruption unit to uphold high ethical standards, stating, “He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.”

A statement from Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS chairman, indicated that Adedeji urged the unit's members to embody the agency's core values, which reject corruption, and to ensure that integrity and transparency are central to their duties and responsibilities.

The initial phase of joining the FIRS anti-corruption unit has been successfully completed. The challenging work begins now. Dr. Zacch Adedeji, the Executive Chairman of FIRS, emphasizes that those seeking fairness must approach with integrity.

“The employees of FIRS, along with taxpayers and the broader community, should recognize the integrity you bring to this role,” Adedeji stated.

Mohammed Lawal Abubakar, the Coordinating Director of the Support Services Group, highlighted that FIRS will continue to back the anti-corruption unit and encouraged the new members to exemplify honesty and integrity.

Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, Chairman of the ICPC, represented by Mr. Olusegun Adigun, Director of System Study and Review at ICPC, affirmed that the members of the FIRS ACTU will receive support to fulfill their responsibilities.

“With this inauguration, the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit of FIRS is now equipped to execute its duties, which include: regularly educating staff about the dangers of corruption; assessing systems, processes, and procedures vulnerable to corruption and proposing solutions; formulating and updating a code of ethics for staff and ensuring adherence; overseeing budget management and its execution by FIRS, coordinating the use of ethics and integrity scorecards, and conducting preliminary investigations into complaints and reports received,” stated the ICPC chairman.

Hajia Sa’adatu Yero, the Director of the anti-corruption unit, commended Adedeji for his genuine commitment to enhancing the effectiveness of the anti-corruption unit.

Yero stated, “The Anti-Corruption Task Unit (ACTU) holds a vital role in safeguarding the Service against corrupt activities by effectively executing anti-corruption strategies and protocols. ACTU is dedicated to eradicating unethical conduct, thereby upholding the utmost standards of integrity and transparency in the operations of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).”