President Muhammadu Buhari has presented Integrity awards to two public servants working with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria for exhibiting Integrity in the performance of their official duties.
He presented the awards to Bashir Abubakar and Josephine Ugwu at the opening of the two-day National Summit on Diminishing Corruption in Public Sector held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.
The event is being organised by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in collaboration with Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).
The Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Abubakar rejected 412,000 dollars (N150 million) bribe offered to him by drug traffickers to import 40 containers laden with Tramadol, a controlled and highly addictive drug.
Mrs Ugwu, a former cleaner at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos had on different occasions returned millions of naira found in the course of her duty, including the sum of N12 million dollars forgotten in the toilet by an airport user.
Speaking at the event, President Buhari stressed the need for Nigerians to uphold the traditionally cherished values of honesty and integrity.
“Let me again note with concern the need to uphold the values of loyalty, honesty, trust, and integrity that were once cherished in our public service. Ethics and integrity are the foundation of an enduring society.
‘‘Nigerian culture does not tolerate dishonesty. Therefore, we must reclaim our traditional values of honesty, integrity and hard work. In spite of the few bad eggs, I am delighted that many Nigerians still hold on to our traditionally cherished values of honesty and integrity,” he said.
President Buhari called on the National Assembly to fast-track the passage of the Special Crimes Court Bill. He also urged the judiciary to embrace and support the creation of the Special Crimes Court.
He said: ‘‘the fight against corruption is of course not only for government and anti-corruption agencies alone. All arms and tiers of government must develop and implement the anti-corruption measures. I invite the legislative and judicial arms of government to embrace and support the creation of Special Crimes Court that Nigerians have been agitating for to handle corruption cases.’’
President Buhari noted that the passage of the Bill was a ‘‘specific priority’’ of this administration’s Economic Recovery & Growth Plan 2017-2020. The President also used the occasion, which marked the launch of the Constituency Projects Transparency Group Report Phase One, to reiterate his appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians to join in the fight against corruption.
‘‘The war against corruption cannot be won without prevention, enforcement, public education and enlightenment. I encourage the ICPC and other law enforcement agencies to intensify their efforts in public education, enlightenment and engagement with citizens.
‘‘I also urge our development partners, civil society organisations, and the media to continue to support our efforts to strengthen ethical values and integrity in Nigeria,’’ he said.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Western Regional Minister orders action to halt encroachment on Ghana Water Company lands at Daboase
33 minutes -
Free speech should not be criminalised – GJA urges
35 minutes -
Ghana to export nurses and teachers to work in Jamaica under new agreement
2 hours -
Sky Agro, Intraco train poultry farmers on feed use to curb losses
2 hours -
Playback: The Law discusses “The False News Crime”
3 hours -
Ashanti Presbytery holds 15 synod with renewed call for care for environment
3 hours -
NGO Today for Tomorrow hands over 7-classroom block to Sakasaka Cluster of Schools in Tamale
3 hours -
FDA confiscates illicit tobacco products in Accra
3 hours -
Dr. Apaak welcomes Canadian International Development Scholarships team
3 hours -
Police apprehend one more suspect in the killing of 26-year-old footballer in Tamale
4 hours -
Thaddeus Sory accuses Godfred Dame of hypocrisy
4 hours -
Tamale becoming transit point for drugs and arms – Northern Regional Police raise alarm
5 hours -
Thaddeus Sory to Dame: And still crying, even more incongruously – Part I
5 hours -
‘Confidence of the boys seem to be back’ – Kurt Okraku on Black Stars’ performance
6 hours -
IMCC holds strategic dialogue with experts on L.E.D
6 hours