STAKEHOLDERS from civil society, government, and the media have demanded a reassessment of how integrity is rewarded within the Nigeria public sector. 

At a multi-stakeholder engagement hosted by Accountability Lab Nigeria, partners of the organisation, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), National Orientation Agency (NOA), Step- Up Nigeria, PRIMORG among others, argued that while symbolic awards are commendable, they are no longer enough to sustain ethical behaviour among public servants facing serious personal and professional risks.

At the centre of the conversation held at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua centre Abuja on May 13, 2025, was the Integrity Icon campaign, an annual initiative supported by MacArthur Foundation, that identifies and celebrates government officials who have demonstrated integrity virtue.

The campaign, which began in 2017, has recognised not fewer than 38 public servants across various sectors, 17 of which are male and 21 females.

Rigorous selection processes were deployed involving nominations, background checks, interviews, and storytelling through short films.

Symbolic recognition, real-life consequences

Speaking at the event, Nneka Henrya, key organiser of the campaign, acknowledged that the award is deliberately non-monetary to preserve its authenticity.

“From conception, we decided it should be non-monetary, so that people are not living their lives for the sake of the award,” she said, adding, “We want to celebrate those who are doing what is right without expecting anything in return.”

However, this was challenged by some participants who shared stories of awardees facing backlash or neglect after being recognised.

Ademola Bakari, spokesperson of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), told the story of a customs officer who rejected a $1 million bribe and was later abandoned by his agency.

“After refusing the bribe, he was redeployed with no accommodation. He slept in his office. People mocked him, saying, ‘If you had taken that money, you’d have built houses,’ That’s the reality,” Bakari said.

He added: “We cannot afford to drop the ball. Reward has to be there. If it’s not tangible, people will jeer at those doing the right thing.”

What did you get?

Friday Odeh, Country Director of Accountability Lab Nigeria, echoed concerns about unmet expectations.

“We’ve had awardees return home, and their families ask them, ‘What did they give you? A house? A car?’ Some icons were even mocked,” he said.

Odeh noted that these perceptions create a disincentive for future nominees, especially in a society where “people are used to paying or being paid for recognition.”

 Sharing an anecdote from a past edition of the campaign, Odeh said: “There was a lady who wanted to pay for her boyfriend to receive the Integrity Icon award.” It just shows how skewed the understanding of recognition has become.”

A call for institutional support

Another major concern raised was the lack of institutional backing for recognised icons. According to Odeh, some public servants have been dropped from the programme after their supervisors refused to approve filming or recognition.

“We’ve lost at least three icons because their employers didn’t approve. In some cases, they said, ‘We have our own internal process for recognising staff, and we weren’t consulted,” he explained.

This was supported by contributions from Austin Agbonsuremi of the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development, PRIMORG, who emphasised that the absence of institutional buy-in undermines the long-term impact of the campaign.

“Recognition shouldn’t end at the ceremony. We need continuous engagement radio programs, TV features, and follow-up stories. Reward is not just cash; it’s sustained visibility,” he said.

Balancing ethics with incentives

During a panel session, Chido Onumah, journalist and author, raised questions about the value of rewarding integrity in a corrupt system.

“Can you really award integrity? Isn’t it something people should just do? But then again, we live in a system where doing your job honestly makes you a unicorn,” Onumah said.

He supported the idea of creative, non-monetary incentives—such as housing support, HR recognition, or mentorship platforms—that affirm the icon’s value without cheapening the award.

Jaye Gaskia, an activist and civil society leader, pointed out that the public should also have a role in vetting nominees.

“Why not let the public flag nominees too, like Churches calling for objections during weddings? Agencies like ICPC may not have all the info,” he said.

Beyond awards: Stories of impact

Despite these challenges, the campaign has recorded success stories. One awardee, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Francis Erhabo, was recognised for his exemplary service during the #EndSARS protests.

“Youth in his community protected his house, saying, ‘We’ve never seen a police officer like you,” Odeh said, adding, “He mentored 10 to 15 junior officers who said they wanted to be like him.”

Another icon, a NYSC official, transformed the deployment process by introducing online postings to reduce manipulation. A third, a university HOD, refused to allow an influential student to graduate without completing required coursework.

“These small acts add up. That’s the diffusion of integrity we want to see,” Odeh said.

While the Integrity Icon campaign has contributed significantly to reshaping public narratives around honesty in governance, speakers agreed that it must evolve meet today’s complex realities.

“There’s no big-bang solution to corruption. But if we continue to support the good people and reward them properly, we’ll move the needle,” Bakari of the ICPC summed.