By Ahmed Ahmed
The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has received the 2026 Pillar of Integrity in Public Service Award from Verbatim Magazine, highlighting the importance of ethical governance and accountability in sustaining public confidence in Nigeria’s financial institutions.
The award was presented to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDIC, Mr. Thompson Oludare Sunday, who was represented by the Head of Communication and Public Affairs, Ms Hawwau Gambo, at the 2026 Verbatim Awards in Abuja. The event was organised by Verbatim Print & Broadcast Limited in partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
According to a statement signed by Ms. Gambo, the recognition followed the corporation’s second-place overall ranking in the ICPC’s 2025 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS).
The scorecard assesses federal ministries, departments and agencies across four areas: Management Culture and Structure, Financial Management System, Administrative Systems, and Anti-Corruption Initiatives. The NDIC’s recognition therefore reflects an assessment of how ethical standards are incorporated into institutional structures and operations.
For an agency responsible for protecting depositors and contributing to banking system stability, governance standards carry implications beyond internal administration. Public confidence depends partly on the credibility, transparency and accountability of institutions responsible for protecting depositors when banks encounter financial difficulties.
Speaking at the ceremony, ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, represented by the Director of the Systems Study and Review Department, Mr. Olusegun Adigun, delivered a keynote address titled The Power of Integrity in National Development: Strengthening Public Institutions, Restoring Trust and Driving Prosperity.
The address placed institutional integrity within the broader context of national development, where accountable public institutions are essential to building citizens’ confidence in government systems.
Receiving the award on behalf of the NDIC, Ms. Gambo commended Verbatim Print & Broadcast Limited for basing the recognition on the ICPC’s independently validated scorecard. She said the award reinforced the corporation’s responsibility to maintain high standards of transparency, accountability and ethical governance.
“The award is a reflection of the corporation’s sustained efforts to maintain the confidence of stakeholders in the discharge of its mandates,” Gambo said.
The NDIC’s responsibilities include deposit guarantee, bank supervision in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria, failure resolution and bank liquidation. These functions are central to managing banking risks, protecting eligible depositors and addressing the consequences of financial institution failures.
The credibility of the corporation’s processes is therefore important to depositors, financial institutions, investors and other stakeholders who rely on effective safeguards within the banking system.
However, recognition for integrity must be sustained through consistent conduct, transparent decision-making and effective internal controls. An external assessment provides a reference point for evaluating institutional practices, but maintaining public confidence requires continued adherence to those standards.
For the NDIC, the award serves both as recognition of its performance under the EICS and as a responsibility to sustain accountable governance. As Nigeria seeks stronger public institutions and a more resilient financial system, consistent ethical standards will remain important to protecting depositors and strengthening confidence in the banking sector.
