The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Friday called for improved welfare for airport support staff to reduce incidences of corruption at the nation’s airports.
Mr Ekpo Nta, the Chairman of ICPC, made the call in Abuja at the public presentation of the report of the Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) at Lagos and Abuja International Airports.
He said findings of the CRA indicated that support staff of the two airports were more prone to corruption because of their contact with aviation passengers.
Nta said the commission would make recommendations to the Federal Government on the need for screening and improved welfare for the affected staff at the airports.
He said the report indicated that there has been no Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for use by agencies at the airports.
The report, he said, found limited automation of processes, leading to a high degree of human contact between officials and the travelling community and thereby creating opportunity for gratification and bribe.
“Passengers and baggage screening equipment are inadequate and suffer frequent breakdown which compounds the problem of human contact with officials.
“Information dissemination on the rights and obligations of passengers is limited and the gap is exploited by some officials and touts.”
He called for the design and adoption of a standardised SOP and Code of Ethics for the airports to be supervised by a multi-stakeholder committee.
Nta advocated for limited posting tenure of two years, regular staff rotation within beats as well as inclusion of integrity training and testing in the guidelines for posting airport officials.
In her remarks, Mrs Nini Chuku, a representative of the Ministry of Transportation commended the ICPC for the research.
Chuku, Deputy Director of Special Duties in the Ministry, said the implementation of the report would address challenges of corruption at the airports. (NAN)