ICPC, CMD move to tackle unaccredited management consultants

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has expressed readiness to partner with the Centre for Management Development (CMD) to strengthen management education, professional consultancy and institutional capacity development across Nigeria.

The Chairman of the ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, made this known when he received a delegation from the CMD, led by its Director-General, Mr. Bitrus Chinoko, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Aliyu said the proposed partnership would help both institutions align their mandates, particularly in using professional standards, capacity building and preventive education as tools in the fight against corruption.

The CMD Director-General, Chinoko, stressed the need for stronger institutional collaboration, particularly in regulating the management training and consultancy sector.

He raised concerns over the growing number of unaccredited individuals and firms providing consultancy services to organisations in both the public and private sectors.

According to him, the activities of such practitioners could weaken professional standards and negatively affect organisational performance.

“We are witnessing a worrying trend where unlicensed practitioners operate with impunity, delivering substandard services that ultimately undermine organisational performance and public trust,” Chinoko said.

He called for the support of the ICPC in identifying and addressing such practices, insisting that only properly accredited professionals should be allowed to operate within the sector.

“We are therefore seeking the ICPC’s support to identify and address these infractions, so that only duly accredited professionals are permitted to operate in this critical sector,” he added.

Beyond regulation, Chinoko proposed a partnership that would focus on capacity development for ICPC personnel. He offered the CMD’s expertise in areas including leadership development, productivity improvement and specialised professional training.

According to him, strengthening the skills of personnel would improve the efficiency and effectiveness of institutions responsible for promoting accountability and good governance.

Responding on behalf of the ICPC chairman, the Commission’s Secretary, Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu, DSSRS, welcomed the proposal and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working with other institutions to address systemic weaknesses.

Oparaodu noted that the ICPC’s mandate extends beyond the prosecution of corruption cases, stressing the importance of educating citizens and institutions on ethical conduct.

“Prevention is as vital as enforcement in our anti-corruption strategy,” he said.

“Our collaboration with the CMD aligns perfectly with that preventive mandate, as it targets the root causes of maladministration and professional misconduct.”

On the issue of unaccredited consultancy services, Aliyu assured the CMD that the Commission would investigate credible information and petitions relating to alleged violations.

He, however, urged the Centre to provide detailed evidence to support any allegations brought before the Commission.

The ICPC chairman said that where wrongdoing was established, the Commission would take appropriate action in accordance with the law.

Both institutions subsequently agreed to establish a joint technical committee to develop a practical framework for the proposed partnership.

The committee is expected to examine areas including joint training programmes, monitoring of accreditation, professional standards and public awareness campaigns.

The collaboration is also expected to contribute to improving the quality of management consultancy services and strengthening institutional practices across the country.

The meeting ended with both agencies reaffirming their commitment to promoting professionalism, ethical conduct and stronger institutions as part of efforts to improve governance and support sustainable national development.

The proposed partnership, if fully implemented, could also provide a broader platform for addressing professional misconduct before it develops into wider institutional and governance challenges.