Ekpo Nta Sworn-in as ICPC Chairman

After having served as Acting Chairman for eleven months, President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday administered the oath of office on the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and related offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta. After administering the oath, the President informed him that he would be terribly disappointed if the new anti graft boss failed Nigeria in his duties.

Mr. Nta was appointed as Acting Chairman of the ICPC on November 29, 2011 by President Jonathan and was confirmed on September 28, 2012 following the submission of his name to the Senate.
Five newly appointed federal permanent secretaries were also sworn in at the Aso Chambers of the State House, Abuja, they are Ambassador John Alhassan Gana (Niger), Mr. John Femi Jegede (Ekiti), Dr. James Obiegbu (Imo), Ambassador Sani Saulawa Bala (Katsina) and Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan (Kogi).
While speaking shortly after administering the oath on the new officials, President Jonathan disclosed that every Nigerian is worried about corruption which he described as a major impediment to the progress of Nigeria.
The President assured the ICPC Chairman that as President, he would not interfere in his job but charged him to utilize his experience to put and end to corruption and stealing in the country. He said “for the chairman of ICPC, you have been an acting Chairman for quite sometime and I have observed and I know you have been making some changes to make sure that ICPC become more functional and effective.
Every day, you hear Nigerians talk about corruption, corruption, corruption because that is why during Obasanjo’s administration, ICPC and EFCC were created or established by Acts of Parliament. We believe that these two agencies are in the position to reduce corruption.
As a president, I promise you that I will give you the free hand to do your work. I will not interfere with your function.”