The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has unveiled Anti-Bribery Management Systems and Good Governance Standards to fight corruption in the country.
The Director-General of the organisation, Osita Aboloma, at the public sensitisation workshop on the Anti- bribery management systems and good governance standards in Abuja stated that the standards will help prevent graft in organisations system and to minimise the likelihood of bribery-related lawsuit by implementing an effective compliance program.
Aboloma who was represented by the Director of Operation in the Agency, Eng Felix Nyado, noted that fighting corruption seems to have become an herculean task that most administrations seems not to have overcome.
He said these standards can be applied to by any organisation saying that they can be audited and can be certified too.
“For Nigeria businesses not to be disadvantaged in the global business environment, organisations are required to be certified to these standards ”
“These standards also demonstrate to customers and stakeholders a robust anti-bribery management system.
“Utilise a risk based approach to mange bribery risk and to effectively allocate resources on high risk control and help influence your business partners /suppliers to do the right thing to maintain your organisational reputation,” he said.
According to him, most International company are being certified to the standards and expect those they will do business with the country to do the same.
He however noted that any organisation using the standard should be able to provide an integrated report that puts historical performance into context, thereby helping stakeholders understand its strategic objectives and it’s progress towards meeting them.
In his opening remarks, a director at the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Bako G.N, hailed SON’s initiative adding that it will further strenghtened ICPC’s mandate of putting in place bribery and corruption.
