In a significant move to celebrate honesty in governance, five Nigerian public servants have been nationally recognised for their unwavering integrity. The awards were presented at the ninth edition of the Integrity Icon Nigeria (IIN) campaign, an initiative by Accountability Lab Nigeria.
Celebrating Ethical Public Servants
The prestigious honour is designed to spotlight and celebrate ethical public servants whose daily work demonstrates exceptional honesty, professionalism, and tangible impact on citizens' lives. This year's awardees represent a cross-section of Nigeria's public sector.
The honoured officers are:
- Chief Superintendent of Police Mathias Nuhu from the Akwa Ibom State Police Command's Safer Highway Patrol.
- Mrs. Oluwashola Shobayo of the Lagos State Office of Internal Audit.
- Colonel I.A. Manga of the Nigerian Army, serving in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
- Mr. Kumafan Dzaan from the Benue State Bureau of Statistics (BSBS).
- Mrs. Ann Ejulle Itodo of Government Senior Secondary School, Apo, Abuja.
A Movement to Rebuild Trust in Governance
Speaking at the summit in Abuja where the awards were announced, the Executive Director of Accountability Lab Nigeria, Mr. Odeh Friday, emphasised the programme's core mission. He stated that promoting integrity in public service is fundamental to rebuilding public trust and strengthening Nigeria’s governance systems.
"What we choose to celebrate in our society defines who we are, what our public institutions become, and the kind of society we want," Friday remarked. He explained that the initiative, run in partnership with the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), aims to shift accountability away from fear and punishment towards incentives, norms, and results.
"We identify public servants whose choices under pressure produced evident outcomes for citizens, and we make those choices visible by telling their stories," he added. Friday cited research showing that when integrity is celebrated, it becomes a standard others strive to achieve.
Call for Systemic Change and Recognition
Also addressing the gathering, retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mrs. Hilda Ibifuro-Harrison, stressed that Nigeria must entrench ethical leadership, fairness, and measurable performance standards across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). She argued this is critical to reversing declining public trust and institutional inefficiency.
Ibifuro-Harrison pointed out that despite policy reforms, the public sector still grapples with bureaucracy, weak institutions, and systemic challenges. She listed key obstacles including outdated processes, limited digital infrastructure, weak policy enforcement, politicisation, and low staff morale.
"The civil service is not lacking in dedicated officers but in systems that recognise and reward excellence, integrity, and ethical conduct," she stated. She urged for recognition to extend beyond annual ceremonies to a sustained system that provides continuous platforms and support for ethical officers.
The Director-General of the BPSR, Dasuki Arabi, commended Accountability Lab Nigeria for sustaining one of the country's most credible citizen-focused accountability platforms. He noted that the Integrity Icon campaign has evolved into a powerful movement that identifies and celebrates exemplary public servants, setting a positive benchmark for the entire service.
