The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in collaboration with the Anti Corruption Transparency Unit (ACTU), on Tuesday, organized a sensitization campaign against all forms of corrupt practices for workers of the Sultan Abubakar 111 International Airport, Sokoto.
Giving insights into the campaign, the FAAN’s Sokoto Airport Manager, Alhaji Musa Asizehi Ojo, said the sensitization is no doubt a milestone in the history of Sokoto Airport.
Musa, who defined corruption as a deliberate thwarting or ignoring of professional ethics/ethos, procedure and process for pecuniary reasons, stated that nepotism, tribal sentiments as well as religious bigotry are all manistations of corruption.
He said, “You recall that touting, jumping queue, thwarting/undermining facilitation-process/procedure, security arrangement for personal gain, is nothing but corruption.
“For our Airports to be on the same pedestal with other moderm Airports worldwide, corruption in all forms must be a thing of the past at all the nation’s airports for progress, growth and best practices”.
Speaking earlier, the Deputy General Manager/ Head of Department, Human Resources, Port Harcourt International Airport, (PHIA) Mr Ifreke Matthew, said ACTU is out to educate and enlightened the public, monitor MDAs, ensure complaince with code of ethics, undertake study and review operational services of MDAs to improve accountability
Delivering her lectures on, “Eradication Of Corruption In Our Work Place and Environment” the Secretary of FAAN/ACTU, Mrs Njideka Nwobu, stated that corruption has so many appendages ranging from immediate relatives to extended ones.
Nwobu, who appealed to workers of all categories to utilize their God’s giving potentials beyond office work, implored all Nigerians to jointly fight corruption
The ACTU secretary also warned Airport personnel against using their positions to intimidate people wrongly.
She said, “Anything against due process with the aim of making personal gain is corruption. Corruption begins at home.
“Parents must not pamper children with monetary or otherwise gain before sending them on errands as that will stuck in their minds the spirit of nothing goes for free”.
She also warned that workers must avoid gratification as doing so is seeking instant reward for a favour done to somebody.
Nwobu, however stated that in the event a customer voluntarily gives a gift to any staff, he or she should be bold to report and show same to their superiors and colleagues.
Decrying how some personnel are so corrupt, she stated that some may prefer to stay in a particular position for years, go to office even when sick and decline transfer as well as annual leaves.
Nwobu also stated that money is so tempting, thus making lots of people to engage in corruption ignorantly.
She added that some of the deadly sins peope must watch out for should include, “wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, public service without morality amongst others”.
She further disclosed that FAAN will begin awards and recommendations from 2022, warning however that causes of corruption include but not limited to favour, reciprocation, family pressure and the quest to get along with others.
On his part, the State Resident Anti Corruption Commissioner of ICPC, Mahdi Muhammad Lawal, said corruption is an opportunity that must be declined at all times.
