Staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have been commended by the Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Engr Funsho Kupolokun, for their transparency in the conduct of their official duties, which he said had rid the corporation of corruption. Engr Kupolokun gave this commendation at the launch of four Anti-Corruption Publications, held recently at the NNPC Towers, Abuja.

The four publications launched at the occasion are:-

• "The EFCC Establishment Act 2004," reviewed by Mr M.B. Sanni, Manager, Audit Corporate Projects
• "Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2004," reviewed by Mr B.N Fayam, Secretary, NNPC Anti-corruption Committee
• "The code of conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act," reviewed by Mr N.A Oyudo, Executive Director Services, Eleme Petrochemical Company Limited
• "NNPC Corporate Policy and Procedure Guide" reviewed by Mr Peter Ojoji, Manager Employee Relations

Engr Kupolokun said that for the corporation to become an integrated, international Oil and Gas company comparable to any of its peers, there must be transparency in the way the corporation carried out its activities in order to attract investment and partnership.

He said the NNPC Anti-Corruption Committee was working in concert with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) in the fight against corruption. He added that the Committee was also collaborating with similar outfits in other oil companies like Shell, Chevron, Total-Final-Elf to exchange ideas and information.

In his speech earlier at the occasion, the Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr Nuhu Ribadu, represented by Juliet Ume-Ezeoke, Head, External Cooperation of the Committee, said the attempt by NNPC to internalize principles of professional ethics, honesty and transparency was worth applauding. He said EFCC, which was set up by President Obasanjo with the desire to restore the lost glory and the image of our dear country, needed the cooperation of institutions like NNPC for it to progress.

Also, speaking at the occasion, the Chairman, NNPC Anti-corruption Committee, Dr Maikanti Baru, said NNPC had been a pacesetter in establishing the Anti Corruption Committe with its inception in October 2000. Dr Baru disclosed that the Committee was set up with the aim of investigating workforce corruption, employment processes and procedures that will help close down avenues that breed corruption, advise on prevention, promote transparency and accountability, educate staff and make appropriate recommendations to the management.

Group General Manager, Human Resources, Mr. J.N.K Odocha, described the occasion as direct evidence of corporate responsibility, in a closing remark.
Mr Odocha said it was a cardinal responsibility for every reasonable organisation to show concern about its staff awareness of the implications of corruption.
He advised staff to operate as one family by learning to correct fellow staff who are about to derail.