ICPC Tasks Universities, Polytechnics to Strengthen Controls Over TETFund Projects

ICPC Tasks Universities, Polytechnics to Strengthen Controls Over TETFund Projects

By Our Reporter

Abuja (Core Reporters) The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN) has charged heads of tertiary institutions to strengthen internal controls, address corruption risks and ensure that Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) interventions deliver value for money.

Dr Aliyu gave the charge while declaring open a two-day Organisational Integrity Management Capacity-Building Programme for Officials of TETFund Beneficiary Institutions in Abuja. The programme was organised by the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), the training and research arm of ICPC, with support from TETFund.

The ICPC Chairman warned that weak procurement practices, inadequate project supervision, ineffective internal controls, conflicts of interest and financial mismanagement could undermine investments in tertiary education. He stressed that funding would achieve its intended purpose only when beneficiary institutions demonstrated transparency and accountability in managing the resources entrusted to them.

“Integrity must not exist merely in policy documents or institutional mission statements. It must be reflected in everyday decisions, administrative processes, and the management of public resources,” he stated. He urged institutional leaders to demonstrate ethical conduct, enforce established procedures and provide appropriate channels for reporting misconduct without fear of retaliation.

Dr Aliyu called on participating institutions to institutionalise corruption risk assessments, strengthen documentation and segregation of duties, ensure independent verification of projects and improve reporting and response mechanisms. He also urged them to identify specific integrity measures, designate responsible officers, set implementation timelines and establish measurable indicators for tracking progress.

“The success of this initiative should be measured not merely by attendance or participation, but by the improvements introduced in your respective institutions,” he said. He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to prevention through System Study and Review, Corruption Risk Assessment, the Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard and capacity-building programmes delivered through ACAN.

In his remarks, the Provost of ACAN, Professor Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, emphasised that integrity in tertiary education must extend beyond institutional leadership to academic staff, non-academic personnel and students. He identified honesty, accountability and fairness as essential to building trust and maintaining ethical standards across educational institutions.

Professor Ibrahim urged tertiary institutions to work with ICPC to strengthen integrity management and address administrative corruption, embezzlement, examination misconduct, the monetisation of marks, sexual harassment and ghost workers. He commended TETFund for supporting the programme and providing an opportunity to strengthen education governance.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono,  represented by the Director of Human Resources and General Administration, Dr. Kolapo Okunlola, stressed that funding alone could not guarantee results without accountable leadership, effective implementation and strict adherence to standards. He urged institutional leaders to comply with procurement laws, financial regulations and TETFund guidelines, take responsibility for project outcomes and protect those who report misconduct.

Arc. Echono reaffirmed TETFund’s commitment to transparency and accountability, calling on participants to identify institutional vulnerabilities and apply the lessons from the programme in their respective institutions. He stressed that the impact of TETFund interventions should be assessed by the integrity of their management and the improvements they deliver in educational infrastructure, research and learning.