The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu SAN, has urged stakeholders in local governance to embrace administrative reforms and enhance institutional capacity to ensure transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s local government system.
Speaking at a one-day dialogue organized by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Dr. Aliyu emphasized the urgent need to address systemic corruption in local governance, citing instances where public funds were misappropriated under the guise of preparing for local government elections.
“In one such instance, substantial sums were illicitly moved, raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability,” he noted.
Dr. Aliyu hailed the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming local government autonomy as a critical milestone in the quest for good governance at the grassroots.
However, he stressed that the ruling must be implemented with deliberate and sustained efforts from all stakeholders.
In line with the judgment, the ICPC, in collaboration with the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, has launched the Accountability and Corruption Prevention Programme for Local Governments (ACPP-LG).
The initiative aims to combat corruption across five key areas: fiscal transparency, human resources management, open procurement, citizen engagement, and corruption control.
He called on Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), anti-corruption agencies, and professional bodies such as the Nigerian Bar Association to defend the Supreme Court’s decision against attempts to dilute its effect through frivolous litigation.
Dr. Aliyu referenced the landmark case AG Ondo State v. AG Federation, which affirmed ICPC’s authority to investigate corruption. Despite this, he expressed concern over ongoing legal challenges filed in lower courts seeking to undermine such precedents.
Reaffirming the Commission’s resolve, he stated: “The ICPC is determined to enforce the Supreme Court decision using the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, in line with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution which mandates the enforcement of apex court rulings.”
He also cautioned legal practitioners against enabling efforts to subvert the Supreme Court’s judgment in AG Federation v. AG Abia State and Others, urging them to uphold ethical standards and the integrity of the judiciary.
In his opening remarks, CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), emphasized that functional grassroots governance depends heavily on the autonomy of local governments, underscoring the need for continuous advocacy and institutional reforms.