Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has charged members of the newly inaugurated Ebonyi State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Board to discharge their responsibilities with objectivity, impartiality and integrity, warning that the fight against corruption must be free from personal interests and undue interference.
The Governor gave the charge following the swearing-in of members of the Commission’s Board, where he emphasised the need for strong institutions capable of scrutinising government activities, promoting accountability and protecting citizens against administrative injustice.
Nwifuru observed that corruption naturally fights back whenever efforts are made to confront it, but maintained that a sincere, diligent and objective approach, without exceptions or personal considerations, would leave little room for corrupt practices to thrive.
He broadened the understanding of corruption beyond the misappropriation of public funds, identifying administrative misconduct such as abuse of office, preferential treatment, manipulation of official procedures and irregular postings or promotions without due process as other forms of corruption that must be addressed.
The Governor stressed that corruption could also manifest through the misuse of public authority and deliberate circumvention of established regulations, noting that such practices undermine institutional integrity and public confidence in governance.
He described the Ebonyi State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, established under the state’s 2023 law, as an important mechanism for strengthening administrative accountability and ensuring that government ministries, agencies and parastatals operate within established legal and administrative frameworks.
The Governor’s assurance that the Board would be given a free hand to carry out its statutory responsibilities was also highlighted as a demonstration of his commitment to institutional independence and effective oversight.
According to him, no government can effectively monitor every activity across its various establishments through the personal supervision of the chief executive alone, making it necessary to empower institutions that can identify administrative lapses, investigate complaints and recommend appropriate corrective measures.
He urged the newly inaugurated members to demonstrate courage, fairness, integrity and strict adherence to the law, stressing that their primary responsibility must be to their statutory mandate and the public interest rather than personal relationships or external considerations.
Reacting to the Governor’s remarks, the Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Leo Ekene Oketa, described the inauguration as more than the constitution of another government board, saying it reinforced the accountability principles underpinning the Nwifuru administration’s People’s Charter of Needs.
Oketa noted that governance must go beyond delivering physical development to ensuring that the institutions and administrative processes through which development is pursued remain transparent and accountable to the peoplel.
He maintained that the fight against corruption must itself be free from corruption, stressing that effective anti-corruption efforts require sincerity, impartiality and the political will to hold individuals accountable without fear or favour.
