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ICPC Commends National Productivity Centre for Embracing Anti Corruption and Transparency Unit
The Chairman, Independent corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has commended the Director-General of National Productivity Centre, Dr Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi for supporting the Anti- Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) to fight corrupt practices in the Centre.
The Chairman, who was represented by the Director, System Study and Review, Mr Olusegun Oguntade, made this commendation at the annual sensitization programme organized by the Centre’s ACTU in Abuja, on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. He was accompanied by NPC ACTU Desk Officer, Mrs Ajoke Ifejika and some other members of the Commission.
” I wish to commend the Director-General of the National Productivity Centre for the support he has been giving to the ACTU in the Centre”, he said.
Speaking on the role of ACTU as an in-house check mechanism for curbing corruption and building ethical public institutions, the chairman said:
“ACTU is an initiative of the Commission. It is the ICPC engagement platform for public sector organizations established to assist the ICPC in curbing corruption and establishing standards in Ministries, departments, and Agencies (MDAs)”.
Emphasizing the support of the management, he explained that “the support of the management is key to the successful operation of the unit.” He therefore requested more support from the management .
Earlier, while thanking the ICPC team for the sensitization and the good working relationship between the two agencies, Dr. Dan’ Agundi stated that his leadership has zero tolerance for corruption and all related practices, citing practical examples of his activities since taking over the helms of affairs of the Centre.
While expressing his appreciation to directors for their continuous support, and the staff for their adherence to the rules of engagement, he advised them to desist from doing anything that would undermine their integrity, tasking them to always do the right thing to avoid getting into trouble.
“Do not get yourself involved in anything that will make you not to speak with confidence when answering questions concerning your job”.
He, however, expressed confidence in the Centre’s transparency and accountability.
“Now that I’m in charge, I make sure
we do not cross any line.
“When I saw your letter requesting for information about projects, I sent them directly to the appropriate person and directed him to supply all the information needed because from what I know, they have done their job well, especially in the procurement process.
Being an Ambassador of EFCC, Dr Dan’ Agundi said he would not cross the line, recognizing that the activities of the Centre were being monitored.
“Your coming reminds us that we are being monitored, and this will prevent people from being tempted to do the wrong thing” he added.
The exercise aimed to promote transparency, integrity, and accountability in public service.
The NPC Anti Corruption & Transparency Unit (ACTU) sensitization exercise targeted all members of staff, emphasizing the importance of ethical standards in public administration. The goal was to enhance the understanding of anti-corruption measures, promote the fight against corruption, and encourage reporting of malpractices.
The Supreme Court has overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision that recognised Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP). In a decisive ruling, a five-member panel declared that the Court of Appeal lacked the legal authority to determine the party’s leadership matters.
In a unanimous verdict, the highest court in the land stated that the Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction over the matter. The panel observed that since the case revolved around the internal leadership structure of the Labour Party, it fell outside the jurisdiction of the courts.
The ruling reinforced the long-standing principle that leadership disputes within political parties should be resolved internally, rather than through judicial intervention.
The Supreme Court stressed that leadership struggles within political parties are purely internal matters. According to legal principles, courts should not interfere in such issues, as they fall under the party’s constitution and governance framework. By upholding this legal doctrine, the apex court reaffirmed that political parties must settle their leadership crises independently.
The Supreme Court upheld the appeal lodged by Senator Nenadi Usman and a fellow appellant, ruling that their claims were valid. Their appeal challenged the earlier judgment, arguing that it was flawed due to jurisdictional overreach. After thorough legal scrutiny, the Supreme Court found merit in their argument and ruled in their favour.
The legal battle also involved a cross-appeal filed by supporters of Julius Abure, who sought to challenge the decision against their leader. However, the Supreme Court dismissed this cross-appeal, declaring it unsubstantiated and lacking merit. The ruling effectively ended the legal contest over the Labour Party’s chairmanship, cementing the judiciary’s stance on non-interference in party leadership disputes.
Bitcoin experienced sharp fluctuations following President Donald Trump’s April 2 tariff announcement, initially surging to $88,000 before dropping to $82,000.
By April 3, it stabilized around $83,000, with the broader crypto market down over 4%. Major altcoins like Ethereum and Solana also declined over 6%, hitting multi-month lows.
Analysts see the tariff news as reducing market uncertainty, potentially attracting institutional investors.
Despite higher-than-expected rates, experts believe the clarity could help Bitcoin regain momentum toward $90,000. Bitcoin ETFs, led by BlackRock, recorded $218 million in inflows on April 2, reversing prior outflows.
Kraken’s Thomas Perfumo challenged the idea that institutional interest stabilizes crypto, emphasizing that volatility signals demand for a scarce asset.
Some analysts viewed the sell-off as an overreaction to trade policy concerns, highlighting Bitcoin’s resilience as a store of value.
With ETFs showing strong demand, Bitcoin’s price may stabilize and rise, though market participants remain cautious, monitoring trade policies and economic conditions.
Violent clashes between pastoralist groups and settled farming communities have long been a challenge in South Sudan.
However, the recent outbreak of violence in the northern Ruweng Administrative Area has further heightened concerns over the nation’s fragile peace. At least 30 people lost their lives after an armed youth group launched a brutal attack on a northern South Sudanese town, according to local officials.
The incident, linked to an escalating cattle raid, saw the town briefly fall under the control of the attackers before security forces regained control.
The violence began when a group of armed youth stole lambs earlier in the week. Security forces quickly intervened, forcing the raiders to retreat. However, instead of dispersing, the group reorganised and launched a more aggressive attack on Abiemnom the following day.
Local Minister of Information, Simon Chol Mialith, confirmed that despite resistance from local youth and security personnel, the town was overrun by the Mayom armed youth. The attack led to significant casualties and destruction before security forces were able to reclaim the town.
On Wednesday, the South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF) successfully pushed the attackers out, restoring a semblance of calm. However, the scale of the destruction was already severe, with over 40 individuals injured in addition to the fatalities.
Although reports suggest that some of the deceased were members of the armed groups, official confirmation remains pending.
The attack comes at a time of growing instability in South Sudan, with tensions between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar intensifying. This political rivalry threatens to unravel the delicate 2018 peace agreement that ended the nation’s five-year civil war.
Since gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan has struggled with continuous unrest. Despite its vast oil resources, the country remains impoverished, with conflicts like these exacerbating economic and social difficulties.