Join the Reading for a New Book on Integrity in Public Service

A reading, signing and interactive talk about PT Books’ newly released The Muslim Public Servant in Nigeria: Integrity, Justice and the Sacred Trust of Office is set for 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, 17 September at Roving Heights Book Store in City Centre Mall, Abuja.

The book is written by Umar Yakubu, a well-known anti-corruption advocate and public thinker. It uses important Islamic principles to discuss the challenges of service, leadership, and followership in Nigeria. This is especially relevant at the public level, which affects everyone in society.

The book looks at what it means to serve Nigeria and humanity with integrity, competence, justice, and accountability.

It tackles big issues that Nigeria faces, while also providing lessons that can apply to many parts of the world. It addresses concerns like corruption, abuse of office, nepotism, incompetence, and the wrong use of public resources.

At the heart of the book is the Islamic idea of amanah or trust. This idea sees public office as a moral duty that must be fulfilled for the benefit of citizens and society. This is in contrast to the common pattern of a few privileged people misusing public resources. The book calls for restoring integrity in public affairs, which is also an important act of worship.

Mr Yakubu makes a strong case for restoring integrity by rebuilding trust in society. He talks about the realities of public service in Nigeria, which show the major problem of corruption and self-interest. This has led to issues like incompetence, nepotism, tribalism, conflicts of interest, and the misuse of public resources, along with problems like vote buying.

These issues need to be dealt with collectively. The book explains how to do this. A key part of this is how public servants should be chosen. They should be trusted with social responsibilities based on competence and trustworthiness, not political ties or personal relationships.

The book serves as a guide for The Integrity Arm or the fourth dimension of Governance. The Muslim Public Servant in Nigeria: Integrity, Justice and the Sacred Trust of Office raises interesting ideas, including “divine laundering.” This term refers to some public servants who give part of their stolen funds to religious causes, thinking it will wash away their wrongdoings.

The author also makes a clear distinction between showing off religious practices and true ethical behavior, which should be based on honesty and fairness when handling public trust.

This book shares principles that can apply universally. The Islamic framework used is a metaphor for the search for integrity and justice. Its important message goes beyond just Muslims. The values of justice, honesty, competence, accountability, and service matter to everyone who wants to build better institutions and societies.

In summary, The Muslim Public Servant in Nigeria is more than just about Muslims in public office. It is a broader call for rethinking and restoring the sacred purpose of power, leadership, responsibility, and service. Its main message is clear: public office is a sacred trust, and those in such positions must be ready to answer for how they use that trust.

On Thursday, 17 September, the reading at Roving Heights Book Store will feature Dr Umar Yakubu, who is the Executive Director of the Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity. Key figures from organizations, civil society leaders, policy experts, other authors, and members of the public will be there. The discussion will be led by Malam Hanafi Mujeli, who will explore important questions about accountability, ethics, and leadership in public service.

The book is now available in major bookstores in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, and Kaduna. Those interested in anti-corruption, integrity, and national recovery can get their copies signed at the event.