Ojo Reaffirms Commitment to Accountability, Staff Welfare

By Our Reporter

The Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN) has commended the management of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) for demonstrating transparency, selflessness and hard work in the fight against corruption within the housing sector over the years.
The Provost of the Academy, Professor Sherrif Ghali Ibrahim, gave the commendation while presenting an award to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Housing Authority, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, at the agency’s headquarters on Wednesday.
Professor Sherrif praised the leadership of the Authority for its commitment to accountability, noting that the recognition was a reflection of the agency’s steadfast efforts. He explained that ACAN, coordinated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), is committed to promoting integrity and ensuring sanity in public offices across the country.
According to him, the ICPC is mandated to create awareness against corruption, strengthen knowledge and build partnerships that discourage corrupt practices in both the public and private sectors.
Responding, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Housing Authority, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, said the Authority has transformed its financial position within two years, moving from an inherited debt profile of ₦12 billion to a revenue base of about ₦10 trillion.
He disclosed that the Authority has also attracted investments worth over ₦500 billion in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the country, adding that the profits generated since the current management assumed office are sufficient to sustain the agency.
While appreciating ACAN for the honour, Ojo said he would have preferred to receive the recognition at the end of his tenure but accepted it because of the credibility and prestige of the Academy.
He added that the Authority has invested significantly in staff welfare as part of efforts to curb corruption and eliminate unethical practices that existed before the current administration assumed office.
According to him, the welfare initiatives include digitisation of operations, clearance of promotion backlogs, improved medical services, free transportation for all categories of staff, payment of a 13th-month salary and other allowances.
He further stated that the Authority has introduced regular training and retraining programmes, both locally and internationally, assuring that all staff members would undergo anti-corruption training in batches through the Academy to further strengthen integrity within the organisation.
Ojo also noted that the Authority has created employment opportunities over the past two years for both able-bodied persons and persons with disabilities across the country, while promising to expand such opportunities in the future.