ICPC Assesses Customs’ Compliance On Anti-Corruption, Ethics
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) on Saturday announced the deployment of two key anti-corruption evaluation tools, “the Ethics and Compliance Scorecard (EICS) and the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) Effectiveness Index (AEI).”
The assessment was conducted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) at the service headquarters in Abuja.
The initiative is part of a nationwide strategy by the ICPC to monitor and strengthen ethical standards across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), focusing on internal compliance, transparency, and anti-corruption frameworks.
According to the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG), Isah Umar, who represented the Comptroller-General, Adewale Adeniyi, on Saturday the Service recognises the assessment as an essential step in aligning with ongoing institutional reforms.
“This is an important oversight process to evaluate ethics and integrity levels across government agencies. For us in the Nigeria Customs Service, it aligns with our broader reforms aimed at ensuring professionalism, accountability, and citizen-focused service delivery,” Umar stated.
He affirmed the NCS’s readiness to collaborate with the ICPC throughout the evaluation process.
“We have carefully reviewed the requirements of this assessment and assembled all relevant documentation. We invite the ICPC team to critically review them, and we remain open to collaboration for continuous improvement,” he added.
Leading the ICPC delegation, Umar Sani explained that the tools are part of the Commission’s preventive framework aimed at fostering accountability across MDAs.
“The deployment of the Ethics and Compliance Scorecard and the ACTU Effectiveness Index is a preventive tool to ensure MDAs, including the Nigeria Customs Service, are compliant with institutional ethics and procedures.
He said, “It also evaluates transparency and accountability structures and assesses the strength of internal systems.”
Sani outlined the four components of the Ethics and Compliance Scorecard: Management structure and culture; Financial management systems; Administrative systems and ACTU effectiveness index.
He also stressed the importance of ACTU in maintaining ethical standards in public service.
“The ACTU, domiciled in all MDAs, plays a crucial role in sensitising staff against corruption and reporting unethical practices through structured channels in collaboration with the ICPC,” Sani added.
During the visit, Comptroller of Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), Emmanuel Oshoba, and Comptroller, Special Duties, Hannel Hadison, provided insight into how the ACTU has been integrated within the Customs Service.
They noted that ACTU desk officers have been active across Customs commands, conducting awareness campaigns, monitoring officer conduct, and supporting institutional transparency.
ICPC Assesses Customs’ Compliance On Anti-Corruption, Ethics is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
