ICPC urges VCs, rectors to protect TETFund interventions

By Isaac Aregbesola
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has urged heads of tertiary institutions to ensure that Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) interventions are managed with integrity.

The ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN, gave the charge on Monday in Abuja at the opening of the Organisational Integrity Management Capacity-Building Programme for officials of TETFund beneficiary institutions.

The event was organised by the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), a training and research arm of ICPC with the support of TETFund.

Aliyu urged vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, bursars and directors of works to strengthen internal controls, address corruption risks and ensure that TETFund interventions deliver value for money.

He said tertiary education remained fundamental to national development, noting that resources invested in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education were investments in Nigeria’s future.

“TETFund plays a strategic role by providing critical support for infrastructure, research and staff development.

“However, the success of these interventions depends not only on the availability of funds but also on the integrity and accountability of the institutions responsible for their utilisation,” he said.

He warned that weak procurement practices, inadequate project supervision, ineffective internal controls, conflicts of interest and financial mismanagement could undermine TETFund interventions, leading to wasted resources, delayed projects and eroded public confidence.

Aliyu stressed that organisational integrity went beyond personal morality and requires ethical leadership, effective systems and a culture that promotes accountability.

“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,” Aliyu said.

The ICPC boss said while investigation and prosecution remained important, the commission was prioritising prevention through system study and review, corruption risk assessment and ethics compliance scorecards.

Aliyu also charged vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, bursars and directors of works to strengthen their institutions in five key areas.

He said that areas included institutionalising corruption risk assessment, strengthening internal controls, promoting transparency in TETFund projects, strengthening reporting mechanisms and translating knowledge from the training into practical reforms.

“The responsibility for preventing corruption does not rest exclusively with anti-corruption agencies.

“It is a shared responsibility involving institutional leaders, administrators, procurement officers, auditors and other stakeholders,” he said.

The Executive Secretary, TETFund, Sonny Echono, in his remarks urged officials of beneficiary institutions of the fund to ensure that every naira disbursed was traceable to tangible, high-quality outcomes

Echono, represented by Dr Kolpao Okunlola , Director Human Resources and General Administration, said organisational integrity remains central to national development, warning that public trust depended on responsible stewardship.

He 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.

He warned beneficiary institutions against political interference and personal gain in the selection of beneficiaries and execution of projects, citing his repeated warnings that when appointments are influenced by factors other than merit, the entire institution suffers.

Prof. Tank Ishaya, Vice Chancellor University of Jos and Chairman, Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities, urged beneficiary institutions to judiciously utilise funds allocated to them.

Ishaya identified honesty, transparency, accountability, data integrity, respect and fairness as core pillars of organisational integrity, stressing that integrity goes beyond money.

The Provost of ACAN, Prof.  Sheriff Ibrahim, in his address of welcome said integrity in education referred to the adherence to ethical principles and standards by educators and students alike.

He identified honesty, accountability and fairness as essential to building trust and maintaining ethical standards across educational institutions.

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.(NAN)

Edited by Yakubu Uba