By Obas Esiedesa, Abuja

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has launched a new anti-corruption framework aimed at tackling corruption, unethical practices and strengthening transparency and accountability across the company.

The framework, unveiled on Tuesday at the TCN headquarters in Abuja, comprises four policies covering anti-bribery and corruption, anti-money laundering and fraud, conflict of interest and whistleblowing.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, represented by the Executive Director, Human Resources and Corporate Services, Mrs. Abiodun Afolabi-Fadahunsi, said the initiative reaffirmed the company’s commitment to integrity, accountability and ethical conduct.

Abdulaziz said as an organisation entrusted with a critical responsibility in Nigeria’s electricity supply value chain, TCN’s credibility depended not only on what it achieved but also on how it conducted its affairs.

He said: “We must therefore continue to remind ourselves of the need to always conduct our affairs with integrity, professionalism, and a strong sense of responsibility.”

According to him, the fight against corruption required the commitment and cooperation of both management and staff, adding that TCN must create an environment where ethical conduct was firmly embedded in its corporate culture.

He explained that the four policies had been compiled into a single booklet by the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) of TCN.

The TCN boss urged employees to familiarise themselves with the policies and ensure that their provisions were reflected in their daily decisions and conduct.

“Policies are only meaningful when they are understood, embraced and faithfully implemented,” he said.

Abdulaziz added that the management’s objective went beyond preventing corrupt practices to strengthening a culture of honesty, fairness, accountability, transparency and professionalism across the company.

Also speaking, the Chairman of TCN’s ACTU, Mrs. Benibo Erakevwe, said the unveiling demonstrated the company’s commitment to promoting integrity, transparency and accountability.

She said corruption remained a major challenge to effective governance, organisational growth and sustainable development, noting that it undermined trust, weakened institutions and led to the waste of valuable resources.

Erekavwe stressed that the fight against corruption could not be left to ACTU or a few individuals, but required the participation of every member of staff.

She said the new policies provided a structured framework for preventing, identifying, reporting and appropriately responding to corrupt and unethical practices, while also clarifying the responsibilities and standards expected of employees.

According to her, the effectiveness of the policies would ultimately depend on how well they were implemented.

“A policy document, no matter how well written, cannot achieve its purpose simply by being printed or placed on a shelf. Its real value lies in how faithfully we implement and uphold it,” she said.

Erekavwe urged staff to take ownership of the policies and reject bribery, fraud, favouritism, abuse of office and other forms of misconduct.

She said the unveiling should mark the beginning of a stronger and more deliberate phase in TCN’s anti-corruption efforts.

The ACTU chairman commended the management, members of the unit and others who contributed to developing the policies, saying their efforts demonstrated TCN’s commitment to strengthening its systems and promoting ethical conduct.