The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has urged its newly recruited staff to uphold integrity, transparency and accountability in the discharge of their official responsibilities.
The commission gave the charge at the conclusion of a five-day sensitisation and capacity-building workshop organised by its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) for newly recruited staff from the North-Central geopolitical zone and the commission’s headquarters in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The workshop was aimed at strengthening participants’ capacity to prevent corruption, promote ethical conduct and support the effective implementation of the commission’s constitutional mandate.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the chairman of the commission, represented by the Federal Commissioner representing Kwara State, Hon. Ismaila Muhammad Agaka, urged participants to apply the knowledge acquired during the workshop in their respective duty posts.
He stressed that the fight against corruption begins with individual choices and requires the collective commitment of public officers to protect public resources, strengthen public trust and uphold the highest standards of accountability and professionalism.
The chairman charged the participants to return to their offices as ambassadors of integrity, demonstrating diligence, transparency and commitment to the commission’s mandate.
He noted that the management of public resources had significant implications for national development, adding that meaningful transformation could only be achieved through sustained efforts to combat corruption.
He also encouraged the participants to prioritise their physical and mental well-being, noting that regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle were essential for maintaining the energy, discipline and effectiveness required for efficient public service delivery.
In his remarks, the Federal Commissioner representing Nasarawa State, Hon. Abdulkadir Al-Makura, urged the participants to internalise the lessons of the workshop and demonstrate them through their professional responsibilities and personal conduct.
Al-Makura emphasised that integrity, honesty, discipline and accountability must extend beyond the workplace, noting that an individual’s conduct in both official and private life reflects their commitment to ethical standards.
He urged the participants to shun corruption and other forms of misconduct, challenging them to ensure that the training translated into tangible improvements in their conduct, decision-making and approach to public service.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to the commission and other stakeholders for choosing Nasarawa State to host the workshop, while commending the hospitality extended to participants during their stay in Lafia.
The workshop also provided an opportunity for participants to assess the knowledge acquired and its practical implications for their respective responsibilities within the commission.
One of the participants, Mr. Anendah Benjamin Ahanga, from the commission’s Makurdi State Office, described the workshop as enriching, enlightening and educative, saying it had broadened his understanding of integrity, accountability and the fight against corruption.
Ahanga explained that the sessions had changed some of his previously held perceptions about practices that might appear ordinary or acceptable but could undermine ethical standards.
He said the training reinforced the need for vigilance, sound judgment and caution in both professional and personal dealings.
According to him, integrity begins with individual choices and the willingness to do what is right, regardless of prevailing circumstances or external pressures.
He urged public officers to avoid cutting corners, adhere strictly to due process and ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.
Similarly, Adeze Miriam Oraegbuna of the Federation Account Department at the commission’s headquarters described the training as insightful, informative and impactful.
She said the workshop had reinforced her understanding of the importance of integrity, transparency and accountability in public service.
Oraegbuna expressed confidence that applying the lessons acquired would strengthen ethical conduct, promote good governance and enhance public trust in the commission.
Another participant, Mr. Kabiru Alhassan Shuaibu of the Fiscal Efficiency Department at the headquarters, described the workshop as engaging and informative.
Shuaibu observed that corruption remained a major obstacle to national progress, stressing that every citizen had a responsibility to contribute to tackling the problem.
He also highlighted the importance of identifying, documenting and reporting suspected cases of corruption to the appropriate authorities.
Shuaibu noted that the commission’s constitutional responsibility to monitor accruals to and disbursements from the Federation Account placed a significant obligation on its staff to safeguard public resources.
He explained that the funds being monitored represented the contributions and sacrifices of ordinary Nigerians, including traders, civil servants and other hardworking citizens whose economic activities sustained the nation.
He expressed confidence that applying the lessons from the workshop would strengthen the commission’s efforts to protect public revenue and promote accountability in the management of national resources.
