by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Chairman of a body, ‘Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission’ (RMAFC), Muhammed Bello-Shehu, has warned that manipulation of official processes could constitute a greater form of corruption than bribery and direct misappropriation of public funds.
Bello-Shehu said “Corruption should not be viewed only through the narrow lens of financial inducement,” stressing that actions capable of undermining established procedures, institutional controls and public trust could seriously damage public institutions.
He gave the warning on Monday in Kaduna, while declaring open a five-day training for RMAFC staff on revenue integrity, institutional accountability, anti-corruption and effective internal controls.
The Chairman, who was represented by Ismail Mohammed-Agaka, said the constitutional responsibilities entrusted to RMAFC placed the Commission at the centre of Nigeria’s fiscal governance and demanded an uncompromising commitment to integrity from its officers.
He urged staff to uphold transparency, accountability, fairness and integrity in the discharge of their duties, warning against abuse of office, conflict of interest, favouritism, manipulation of official processes and deliberate disregard for established rules.
“The fight against corruption is not the responsibility of ACTU or ICPC alone. It is a personal and institutional responsibility. Every decision we take, every process we manage, and every official conduct we undertake must withstand the test of integrity, accountability, fairness and transparency,” he said.
Bello-Shehu said corruption could manifest beyond the payment or receipt of bribes, including conduct that undermined due process and eroded public confidence in government institutions, adding that deliberate manipulation of official processes could weaken institutions and compromise the public interest.
He urged participants to take full advantage of the five-day programme by engaging the resource persons and applying the knowledge gained to their daily duties and service delivery, stressing that RMAFC officers must be “persons above reproach.”
The Chairman said integrity should guide the decisions of officers, while accountability should define their actions, adding that effective internal controls were essential to preventing abuse and ensuring that official decisions remained transparent, fair and consistent with established regulations.
The training was organised by the Commission’s Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) as part of efforts to strengthen governance, institutional controls and integrity through anti-corruption and audit excellence.
Earlier, the Director, Audit and Chairman of ACTU, Dr Idris Yusuf-Musa, said the programme underscored the unit’s commitment to embedding integrity, transparency and accountability in the Commission’s operations.
He urged participants to apply the knowledge gained to their daily duties and resist practices capable of undermining due process, saying, “Our conduct must always justify the public trust reposed in us.”
Yusuf-Musa appreciated the management of RMAFC for its support for the programme and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for its partnership in promoting integrity and accountability in the public service.
One of the participants, Nabila Abubakar, a staff member of the Kaduna State Directorate on RAMPAC, said the training had equipped her with useful knowledge that would help strengthen integrity within the organisation, enhance public awareness of its activities and enable staff to identify and tackle abuse of office and other forms of financial corruption.
Another participant, Aminu Ibrahim Imam, a manager representing the Audit Department and a Chartered Accountant, identified accountability, transparency and integrity as “key principles” that should guide public institutions, particularly RMAFC, given its responsibilities in revenue mobilisation, collection and the promotion of fiscal efficiency.
Imam said effective application of the three principles would promote proper management of public funds and value for money, expressing optimism that the knowledge and experience gained from the training would improve staff performance and strengthen the effectiveness of the Commission in serving public interest.