In its resolve to tackle corruption in the country as prescribed by the mandate in its enabling law, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has been exploring all options open to it in this regard.
Section 6 (b-d) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 vests in the Commission the power to “instruct” and “advice” any Ministry, Department, Agency or any other public body on its corruption-prone processes and to supervise a review of such processes. This function is referred to by the Commission as System Study. To this end, ICPC has been conducting system studies in MDAs and other public bodies.
Interestingly, the studies have been quite revealing. They have indicated systemic dysfunction; inadvertent breaches of regulations; ignorance of proper procedures; and sometimes, willful violation of laid down rules of doing government business by public officials.
ICPC sets a lot of store by these studies on account of the fact that they form a solid tool for its corruption-prevention drive. The Commission also follows up the studies to ensure that the erring public bodies correct the systemic anomalies.
Summary of the System Study Review Conducted on Bwari Area Council
The review covers a three- year period from 2011 through to 2013 and the following inferences were drawn from the study:
A Summary of the System Study of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB)
AEPB is saddled with the responsibilities of discharging industrial waste, maintenance of septic tanks and sewage. It also protects the territory against poaching, stray and wandering animals and indiscriminate felling of trees.
Findings from the four-week exercise revealed the following:
Summary of the Report of the System Study and Review of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments
The review was conducted in July 2012 and it was discovered that the Commission had no Governing Board since 2006. Other findings include:
Summary of System Study of the Directorate of Road Transport Service