Leading with Integrity: Inspiring Stories of Ethical Leadership | Edition 3
Accountability Lab
Supporting active citizens, responsible leaders and accountable institutions around the world.
Uko Anthony Udoh – A force behind the implementation of SERVICOM in health institutions
By Abdulrazaq Hassan
Uko Anthony Udoh is a customer care specialist with almost three decades of service with the Ministry of Health who played a role in improving the quality of service delivery in healthcare and government institutions across Nigeria.This he did by working for the actualisation of SERVICOM in health institutions.
SERVICOM established in 2004 is an acronym for Service Compact with All Nigerians. It is an initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria that promotes effective and efficient service delivery in ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). It also ensures customer satisfaction, and manages the performance-expectation gap between the government and citizens as well as other members of the public, on issues of service delivery, the ‘About Us’ page on the initiative’s official website stated.
“I was instrumental in the actualisation of SERVICOM in Nigeria, my team and I worked relentlessly with proposal writing and follow-ups until we got what we are projecting now” stated Udoh who is a nominee of the 2020 Accountability Lab Integrity Icon Award.
The state of service delivery in the health sector in Nigeria is often characterised by various challenges such as inadequate funding, a shortage of healthcare workers, poor infrastructure, and limited access to quality healthcare services, particularly in rural areas. This leads to long queues and overcrowding in hospitals and clinics. The healthcare system also faces issues of corruption and mismanagement, which further exacerbate the challenges in service delivery. There have been efforts to improve the state of service delivery in the health sector in Nigeria, such as the implementation of health policies and programmes aimed at enhancing healthcare services and expanding access to care.
Relief Resistance: Faith Momoh’s Crusade for Honest Aid Distribution in Kogi State
By Adisa-Jaji Azeez
For twelve years, Faith Momoh, a Nutrition Officer and Nurse at the Npi Ofu Local Government Secretariat in Ugwolawo, Kogi State, has fought corruption in a system where unethical practices have become accepted. In an environment where food and relief items meant for vulnerable communities are routinely siphoned by officials for personal gain, Momoh has stood her ground, ensuring that aid reaches those it was intended for.
Momoh’s battle is against a widespread practice in Nigeria’s grassroots, where palliatives donated by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other relief agencies are misappropriated by local stakeholders. This form of corruption, often fueled by nepotism and godfatherism, has harmed the nation’s reputation and increased the struggles of those in need.
Her experience mirrors larger national issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, reports surfaced about recipients being deprived of their share of palliative packages due to favoritism and mismanagement. In another report from Borno State, internally displaced persons (IDPs) suffered hunger due to the diversion of relief items by local officials. A report from Lagos State by the Nigeria Library of Medicine revealed similar breaches in the relief distribution process, with indigents unable to access aid due to insufficient records and omissions.
Corruption is not just about the theft of money or materials, it is also about the loss of trust in the system. It is deeply rooted at various levels of governance, from infrastructure projects to education and healthcare. It has also manifested in humanitarian aid, which makes it more dangerous as it affects the most vulnerable in the country.Corruption in Nigeria is often portrayed as a high-level problem, with attention focused on federal and state governments. However, the real impact is felt most acutely at the grassroots, where local officials manipulate relief materials and other forms of aid.
Defying Corruption: How Naomi Abdu Upholds Justice for Nigeria’s Vulnerable
By Angela Omale
Mwalin Naomi Abdu, an Assistant Chief State Counsel and Gender Focal Officer at the Ministry of Justice in Gombe State, has spent over a decade advocating for the rights of the vulnerable, especially survivors of rape and gender-based violence.
In a justice system notorious for systemic challenges, delays, corruption, and compromised decisions which include prolonged adjudication, technicalities that obstruct justice, her work has demonstrated unwavering commitment to fairness.
Abdu has remained undeterred despite the challenges within Nigeria’s legal framework, which the public often perceives as the “administration of law” rather than true “administration of justice,” according to Paul Daudu, chairperson of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Abuja. In his speech, he captured this public frustration, saying that the system is riddled with technicalities and cumbersome adjudicatory procedures. But in the midst of these criticisms, Abdu’s unwavering commitment to justice shines through.
Her career at the Ministry of Justice has involved handling some of the most sensitive cases of gender-based violence and human rights violations. Her work focuses on bringing justice to survivors of these crimes, often at great personal cost. Her colleague, Danladi Adamu, who nominated her for the prestigious Integrity Icon campaign, described her as a legal professional who consistently goes above and beyond, refusing to bow to external pressures or temptations to cut corners. Her nomination for the campaign is a testament to her reputation as someone who embodies honesty and dedication.
However, Abdu’s journey has been anything but smooth. In a profession riddled with opportunities for corrupt practices, she faces daily temptations to engage in corrupt practices. “I face daily pressure to engage in corruption at work,” Abdu admits. “There was a particular instance where a case assigned to me led to persistent calls, including from the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), who even came to my house. I had to firmly reject these advances and maintain professional boundaries.” In this instance, as in many others, Naomi stood her ground, refusing to compromise her principles.
Quality Assurance In UBEC: Eneh Adikwu’s Quest for Quality Education in Nigeria
By Aisha Gambo
As education in Nigeria faces significant challenges, Mrs. Eneh Adikwu, Director of the Department of Special Programmes, a staff of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), stands out as a beacon of integrity and dedication. Her commitment to quality assurance in Nigeria’s basic education sector has become a symbol of ethical leadership worthy of emulation.
UBEC’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi had tasked the State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) to give increased priority to quality assurance during a key stakeholder meeting in April 2024, urging them to ensure that schools consistently meet national educational standards. It was a timely reminder of the essential role that quality assurance plays in shaping the future of Nigeria’s children.
Among those leading this charge is Adikwu, who, in her career thus far, has upheld the principles of integrity and accountability. She had started her career as a monitoring officer, who believed in the power of quality education to transform lives. While some of her colleagues rushed through school inspections to save time and costs, Adikwu remained committed to the meticulous evaluation of each school, ensuring that no detail was overlooked.
“My job requires traveling and inspecting schools, from primary classes to junior secondary levels. We are often assigned five schools per week, and each inspection should take at least a day to do it thoroughly,” Adikwu shared. “Rushing through inspections, spending just a few hours, doesn’t do justice to the work. It compromises the quality we are meant to ensure.”
Adikwu’s dedication did not come without challenges. She often encountered unethical practices among some of her colleagues, who would either skip parts of their assessments or falsify reports. Recognizing the potential harm such behavior could cause to Nigeria’s education system, she took a stand by reporting these actions to the appropriate authorities, despite the risk of alienating herself from her peers.
Integrity Uncompromised: The Story of a Gender Officer’s Fight
By Makcit Rindap
In 2004, the FCT Secondary Education Board was established by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to enhance the management of senior secondary schools across the territory. The Board is tasked with guiding FCT’s youth aged 15 to 18 through a critical stage of life, focusing on providing quality education that prepares them for higher learning and a purposeful future.
In the organogram of the FCT-Secondary Education Board, Gender is one of the units under the Special Services Division. In 2020, the Board’s head of Gender was nominated for Accountability Lab’s Integrity Icon campaign that aims to encourage people to tell positive stories of exemplary public servants rather than emphasise the negative information about corruption which is quite prevalent in Nigeria’s public sector.
At the time of her nomination, Dr. Laraba Grace Okah was a Deputy Director at the FCT-Secondary Education Board and had served in the civil service for 25 years. Through her positions, she worked closely with non-governmental organisations including Mercy Corps and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) which both support efforts around inclusion, good governance, and basic rights.
Recommended by LinkedIn
Dr. Okah was nominated to become an Integrity Icon by a colleague, Olanike Timipa-Uge.
“I have been working with the board since 2018 and her support for initiatives that promote girls’ education has been phenomenal with no financial return in view,” explained Timipa-Uge. “She has been a strong advocate for gender-responsive education initiatives within the board even while serving with different directors.”
Beyond the Red Tape: Strategies to End Procurement Fraud in Nigeria
By Matthew Ogune
In the first year of his administration, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered a probe into one of his ministers, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Betta Edu, over allegations of procurement-related fraud, which led to her eventual suspension. Tinubu’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, had also ordered investigations into cases of infractions against the Public Procurement Act, 2007, with the hope of punishing any civil servant found to have colluded with contractors to subvert the Act. Despite these efforts, many civil and public servants continue to act without integrity, writes Matthew Ogune.
On April 18, 2018, the Federal Government ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate infractions against the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007, in an effort to punish any civil servant found to have colluded with contractors to subvert the Act.
The then Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, who hinted at the 2018 Procurement Retreat for Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Federal Government agencies and parastatals in Abuja, vowed that anyone found to have conspired with contractors to sideline the procurement process and procedures contrary to the Act, would be dealt with.
Mustapha, who was represented by Olusegun Adekunle, the Permanent Secretary for General Services in the Office of the SGF, said, “Any CEO who defaults, colludes with contractors or is found to have sidelined the procurement process and procedures, contrary to the provisions of the PPA 2007 will be sanctioned.” He added that the Federal Government had ordered all its agencies and parastatals to adhere strictly to the 2007 Procurement Act in contracting projects.
Additionally, a former Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, had described the rate of procurement fraud in public service in Nigeria as alarming.
Bawa, who made the statement during a Batch Conversion Training Programme for Procurement Cadre for Federal Parastatals and Agencies organized by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) in Lagos, said that adequate training on procurement issues for government officials would help mitigate violations of the procurement Act.
“When public officers are properly informed or equipped with the requisite knowledge to perform their jobs effectively, the likelihood of involvement in fraudulent acts or corrupt practices will be minimal, and society will be the greatest beneficiary.
“It is, therefore, encouraging that, since 2008, the BPP, as empowered by the Public Procurement, PPA Act (2007), has consistently organized training and development programmes for procurement professionals in all Federal Government institutions.”
Bawa, who further described the BBP as an ally in the anti-corruption war, added that the EFCC’s Procurement Fraud Section was established to check procurement fraud in the public sector.
Breaking the Mold: Taiwo Busola’s Vision for Education Reform in Osun State
By Arinze Chijioke
In January 2004, four years after his service in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Taiwo Busola was employed at the Osun State Ministry of Education to work as an education officer in the Planning, Research and Statistics Department.
Before resumption of office as the desk officer in charge of furniture distribution to schools in the state, Busola was sent to the Unity School Osogbo (one of the demonstration schools where officers gained practical knowledge) for three years, teaching and learning how the school system works.
“My principal and vice principal organized training for me,” he says. “As an education officer, I was a local inspector of education, and to be able to inspect, I needed to have the experience of what to look out for in schools like their records and lesson notes.”
Reforming an age-old system
In 2020, he was appointed the Officer-in-Charge of the Book Review Desk/Schedule in the Curriculum Development Department. Before then, Busola worked in several desks, including the Bursary, Planning, Research and Statistics, and the Radio and TV Programmes Desk which was responsible for preparing teaching demonstrations.
“But the Book Review Desk was the most challenging for me,” he says. “I was responsible for checking the quality of texts and novels to be used across examination classes in the state.”
Before he took charge of the desk, there was an existing policy that Junior Secondary School (JSS 3) students used a single book for three years in their Basic Certification Examination. This policy meant that only one author’s work was used for that entire period.
Busola wanted to change this to one year because he strongly felt that other authors needed to be empowered. In addition, “we also wanted to expose students to different stories and writing styles,” he explains.
He held discussions with his director who bought into the idea. Different authors from states across the country were invited to bring their books for review which lasted for two months. After this process, three books were selected to be used for three years.
Upholding Justice: How Francis Erhabor is Fighting Corruption in Nigeria’s Police Force
By Simon Ekemini
In 2018, Utibe Akanimo, a 48-year-old commercial motorcyclist, had been detained by the Itam Police Division in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state for dropping a passenger in a restricted area. His predicament, typical of the widespread issues in Nigeria’s police system, seemed dire—until an unexpected intervention changed his fate.
Akanimo, who uses his motorcycle to support his family, had violated the state law prohibiting motorcycles on highways in Uyo, restricting them to remote areas. However, he acted in good faith, trying to assist a physically challenged person get to their destination.His pleas fell on deaf ears as he was arrested, stripped naked at the police station, and his motorcycle seized.
“Even when I tried explaining that it was because of the physically challenged person that made me ride the motorcycle to the highway, no single policeman cared to listen,” he recalls.
In his disheveled state, he saw a man enter the scene whose actions would later become a beacon of hope for many. That man was Francis Erhabor, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Itam Police Division.
Erhabor, known for his integrity, took immediate interest in Akanimo’s case. After listening to the situation and understanding the context—Akanimo’s attempt to assist a physically challenged individual—Erhabor offered fatherly advice rather than imposing a fine. “I was shocked to my marrow,” Akanimo recalls, “He let me leave with my motorcycle without paying a dime.”
Erhabor Walks the Talk on Free Bail
Akanimo’s encounter exemplifies Erhabor’s dedication to upholding the principle that police bail is free, a right enshrined in the Nigeria Police Act of 2020. Despite the widely publicized “bail is free” campaign launched by former Inspector General Ibrahim Idris in 2017, the practice often remains a facade in many stations, where bail racketeering is rampant. However, Erhabor’s tenure at Itam Police Division demonstrated a rare commitment to transparency and justice
Thank you for following the Creative Storytelling Fellowship! Check out other initiatives at Accountability Lab Nigeria, and visit Accountability Lab to learn about our global translocal network.