RMAFC Charges New Employees To Safeguard Public Revenue, Shun Corruption

The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has charged its newly recruited employees to make integrity, transparency and due process central to their work, warning that weak ethical standards could undermine the management of national revenue and public trust.

They were also charged to protect public revenue, uphold transparency and shun corruption in the discharge of their duties, saying ethical conduct is essential to the Commission’s oversight of Federation Account resources.

The charges were issued at the close of a five-day sensitisation and capacity-building workshop organised by the Commission’s Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) for new staff from the North Central Geopolitical Zone and the headquarters in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

RMAFC is constitutionally responsible for monitoring accruals into and disbursements from the Federation Account, among other fiscal functions. The Commission’s role places its officials at the centre of decisions and oversight processes affecting revenue shared by the federal government, states and local governments.

Speaking at the closing session, the RMAFC chairman, Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu, urged participants to convert the lessons of the training into practical conduct at their duty posts.

The chairman, represented by the federal commissioner representing Kwara State, Hon. Ismaila Muhammad Agaka, said the fight against corruption begins with individual choices and requires collective commitment by public officers to protect public resources, strengthen trust and uphold professionalism.

“The management of public resources has significant implications for national development,” the Chairman said, stressing that meaningful transformation depends on a sustained commitment to combating corruption.

He asked the new staff to return to their offices as “ambassadors of integrity,” demonstrating diligence, transparency and commitment to the Commission’s mandate.

Also, the federal commissioner representing Nasarawa State, Hon. Abdulkadir Al-Makura, told participants that integrity must extend beyond official duties into private conduct.

He said honesty, discipline and accountability should shape both professional responsibilities and personal behaviour, urging the officers to reject corruption and misconduct at all times.

Al-Makura also challenged them to ensure that the workshop produced measurable improvements in their decisions, conduct and approach to public service.

Participants said the training reshaped their understanding of practices that may previously have appeared routine or acceptable.

On his part, Anendah Benjamin Ahanga of the Makurdi State Office described the programme as enriching and educative, saying it reinforced the need for vigilance, sound judgement and caution in professional and personal dealings.

“Integrity begins with individual choices and the willingness to do the right thing regardless of prevailing circumstances or external pressures,” he said, urging public officers to avoid cutting corners and adhere strictly to due process.

Also, Adeze Miriam Oraegbuna of the Federation Account Department said applying the lessons would strengthen ethical conduct, promote good governance and enhance public confidence in the Commission.

Kabiru Alhassan Shuaibu of the Fiscal Efficiency Department said corruption remained a major obstacle to national progress and stressed the importance of identifying, documenting and reporting suspected corruption to appropriate authorities.

He said RMAFC’s responsibility to monitor Federation Account accruals and disbursements was particularly significant because the funds represent the contributions of ordinary Nigerians, including traders, civil servants and other workers.

The workshop underscored a recurring concern in Nigeria’s public sector: that revenue oversight institutions must not only track funds but also maintain internal systems strong enough to prevent abuse.

ACTUs were established as internal extensions of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to monitor, report and prevent corruption in ministries, departments and agencies. Their functions include reviewing corruption-prone procedures, promoting codes of ethics and conducting regular anti-corruption sensitisation.