The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive anti-corruption efforts, pledging stronger collaboration with the Nigeria National Association of the Deaf (NNAD) to safeguard citizens’ rights and access to services.
ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, represented by the Commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Demola Bakare, gave the assurance in a goodwill message at the NNAD National Convention held in Abuja on Wednesday.
Aliyu praised NNAD’s values, noting that the deaf community and their families are entitled to full access to services, a principle that aligns with ICPC’s mission of ensuring government services reach all Nigerians, regardless of class, status, ability, or creed.
“Part of our mandate at ICPC is to ensure that all Nigerians have access to government services. Each year, we monitor public projects to ensure they are delivered on time and according to specifications, so that no citizen is denied their rights,” he said.
He stressed that corruption remains one of the greatest threats to citizens’ rights and called on NNAD to adopt sign language in spreading the anti-corruption message within their communities.
Highlighting the National Ethics and Integrity Policy (NEIP), conceived by ICPC and approved by the Federal Executive Council in August 2020, Aliyu said its core values of Human Dignity and Voice & Participation reinforce constitutional guarantees of non-discrimination and inclusive participation, which align with NNAD’s advocacy for inclusive education and communication accessibility.
On his part, NNAD National President, Hon. Haruna Muhammad Tsafe, reiterated the association’s commitment to breaking communication barriers and promoting equal rights for the deaf community. He urged stakeholders to ensure Nigerian Sign Language becomes widely inclusive.
Chairman of the occasion, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, commended NNAD’s resilience and affirmed that deaf persons deserve equal opportunities in society. He also pledged support for stronger institutional frameworks that guarantee persons with disabilities benefit from government programmes.
The convention underscored ICPC’s resolve to fight corruption through broad-based collaboration while promoting inclusivity and equal rights for all Nigerians.
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