The Abia State Government has inaugurated the State Strategy for Integrity, Accountability and Anti-Corruption Steering Committee, with a directive to immediately begin implementing the state's anti-corruption strategy.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Umuahia on Wednesday, the Head of Service, Benson Ojeikere, said the creation of the committee reflects the government's determination to entrench integrity, accountability, and transparency across the public service.

Ojeikere explained that members of the committee were carefully selected based on their strategic roles and ability to effectively drive the implementation of the state's anti-corruption agenda.

He noted that the committee, made up largely of permanent secretaries and other senior government officials, will provide policy direction, monitor implementation, address emerging challenges, and ensure the successful execution of the State Strategy for Integrity, Accountability and Anti-Corruption.

The Head of Service urged members to carry out their responsibilities with commitment, professionalism, and a strong sense of public service, stressing that the success of the initiative would boost public confidence in government institutions.

“The success of this initiative will strengthen public confidence in government institutions, improve service delivery and further promote transparency in governance,” he said.

He expressed confidence in the committee's capacity to advance integrity and accountability in the state, describing the inauguration as another step towards deepening good governance and transparency.

In his remarks, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna (SAN), who was represented by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Paul Ogubunka, described corruption as one of the major obstacles confronting the public service.

He stressed that the vision of building a prosperous and accountable Abia State can only be achieved through a firm commitment to integrity.

“If we are to take the issue of corruption seriously and build the Abia of our dreams as envisioned by Governor Alex Otti, then we must lay a strong foundation of integrity. You cannot build a skyscraper on a weak foundation, and integrity remains the cornerstone of everything this initiative stands for.

“We have completed the validation exercise, which paved the way for what we are doing today. Moving forward, I encourage all of us to engage effectively in this process so that we can set a new standard for accountability and transparency in Abia State,” he said.

Earlier, the State Programme Coordinator of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme, Peter Omenka, described the steering committee as the “policy compass for integrity and accountability” in Abia State.

Omenka explained that the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme is funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

According to him, the programme is designed to strengthen the rule of law, improve access to justice for women, children, and persons with disabilities, while also promoting transparency and accountability in public institutions.

He noted that Abia is among the latest states to benefit from the programme and emphasised that the committee's oversight role would be critical to the successful implementation of the state's anti-corruption framework.

“Without strong oversight, Abia’s anti-corruption agenda remains a document; it has no life. With your leadership, it becomes action,” he said.