By Ayodele Abere
Ondo State is positioning itself to mirror Malaysia, Indonesia, and Rwanda in the fight against graft, after one of its key ministries secured a Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) compliance certification that empowers the Commission to tackle corruption across all sectors.
The milestone was marked during the formal presentation of the CRA report and certificate to the Ministry, capping an assessment exercise that officials say will strengthen institutional safeguards and service delivery from 2026 to 2028.
Speaking at the event, the Commission’s Chairman cited Malaysia, Indonesia, and Rwanda as examples of nations that have made “significant progress in combating corruption,” insisting “Nigeria should not be left behind.” He praised Engr. Alabi for granting access to begin the exercise and said “with the right political will, Ondo State can achieve similar success,” but urged that the report “be thoroughly reviewed and implemented.”
Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Adeyeye Adewole, commended the Ministry’s leadership, consultants, and staff for their cooperation, noting that the certification qualifies the Ministry as CRA-compliant for a two-year period, 2026 to 2028. The status, he explained, gives the Commission a mandate to proactively identify vulnerabilities and enforce reforms across all sectors.
Responding, Permanent Secretary Alhaji Olabode Yusuf thanked the Commission and assured that the report would be “carefully reviewed, with appropriate measures implemented to further strengthen the Ministry’s operations.”
The exercise, officials said, moves anti-corruption work from reaction to prevention by mapping risks, plugging loopholes, and setting measurable compliance standards. Beyond the certificate, the real test will be implementation — turning recommendations into budget controls, procurement transparency, and disciplinary frameworks.
The event closed with the presentation of the CRA report and certificate.
