The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has announced the 2021 Public Service Integrity Awardees.
The distinguished Nigerians were honoured for their display of exceptional act of integrity and exemplar conduct.
The awards was presented to them by President Buhari at the 3rd National Summit on Diminishing Corruption in the Public Sector.
The 2021 Public Service Integrity Awardees are:
- Nelson Okoronkwo, Deputy Director, Legal, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture,
- Muhammad Ahmad, Assistant Commander of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and
- Ikenna Nweke, a PhD student, from Imo State, studying in Japan.
Nelson Okoronkwo, was recognised for his consistent acts of integrity in the different ministries where he served. As a committee member on fertilizer distribution, his action led to the recovery of billions of naira from racketeers with collaborators within the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
He was credited to have reported corrupt practices that led to the Ogoni cleanup investigation in the Federal Ministry Environment.
As Committee Chairman on Illegal Recruitment in the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, the Deputy Director facilitated the detection and removal of over 3000 fake employers from the Service thereby saving the government millions of naira in terms of salaries and emoluments.
Muhammad Ahmad, was recognised for demonstrating the highest ideals and standards of the public service in the discharge of his responsibilities.
Ahmad recently recovered and declared to his Agency the sum of 24,500 USD offered to him as bribe by a drug baron to compromise an investigation of 27.950 kg of cocaine, worth billions of naira. He is also a recipient of the Chairman/Chief Executive Award for Outstanding Performance and Integrity,
Ikenna Nweke, the Nigerian PhD student in Japan who found a wallet containing a very large amount of money and other valuables returned it to the Japanese police. He declined 10 per cent of the money offered to him as a reward.
Mr. Ikenna joined the event virtually from his base in Japan, was recognised for his act of ‘‘honesty and integrity,’’ by the President.
On Nweke, President Buhari said:
‘‘I am also happy to note the ICPC special award to Ikenna Steve Nweke, a Nigerian Ph.D student from Imo State studying in Japan.
‘‘He has done Nigeria proud in far-away Japan by displaying traditional Nigerian values of honesty and integrity and returning a wallet containing a very large sum of money and other valuables to the police.
‘‘I join the ICPC in declaring him ICPC CITIZENS ANTI-CORRUPTION VOLUNTEER GROUP ICON.
‘‘He is indeed an icon and a beacon for our youths. I also congratulate all those to be awarded the ICPC Certificate of Integrity through their agencies.’’
About the award
The Public Service Integrity Award is organised by Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The Public Service Integrity Award honours deserving public servants who have performed exceptional acts of integrity.
