The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) successfully recovered nearly N4 billion in public funds within 24 hours, from September 18 to 19, 2024.

This significant recovery, which involved funds illegally diverted into private accounts, was announced by ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu during a National Anti-corruption Coalition (NACC) Members Interactive Forum held on Thursday in Abuja.

In his address, Dr. Aliyu highlighted the commission’s dedication to reclaiming more public funds and emphasized Nigeria’s growing challenge of corruption.

The ICPC Boss while advocating for a united front to tackle the issue, stated, “Corruption remains one of Nigeria’s most persistent challenges. It undermines economic growth, erodes public trust, and weakens governance. Our experience at the ICPC has shown that a proactive, multi-faceted approach—encompassing enforcement, prevention, deterrence, and reform—is crucial.”

Dr. Aliyu also pointed to digital transformation as a key tool in combating corruption. “Digital platforms offer powerful means to track, analyze, and expose corrupt practices, including salary padding and ghost workers.

According to him, “At ICPC, we have seen the potential of these tools through our review of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS),”.

The ICPC Chairman who reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, referencing recent Supreme Court rulings on local government autonomy stressed that the judiciary plays a vital role in promoting accountability, particularly at the local level.

His words, “The Supreme Court’s decision underscores the need for democratically elected local government councils to manage public funds. In response, ICPC will intensify efforts to ensure compliance with the judgment and prevent the diversion of local government resources,”.

He further emphasized the importance of local government autonomy in reducing corruption and ensuring effective community development. “By aligning our initiatives with the court’s ruling, ICPC remains committed to transparency and the enforcement of the rule of law, which are essential for good governance and sustainable development.”

Dr. Aliyu also unveiled his policy thrust for his tenure, focusing on fighting corrupt practices with an emphasis on prevention, leveraging technology, and promoting the values of Culture, Accountability, Responsibility, and Efficiency (CARE) within the ICPC.

“This policy will guide and assess my leadership at the Commission. It is crucial that our anti-corruption efforts remain focused and deliberate,” he added.

He expressed his gratitude to ICPC staff, NACC members, and civil society organizations (CSOs) for their ongoing commitment to combating corruption in Nigeria. “I entrust my leadership to the guidance of Almighty God and pledge to be a leader who listens, building on the legacy of those who have chaired this institution before me,”.

In a separate presentation, Mr. Jimoh Sulaimon, Deputy Director of the Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI), urged NACC members to actively monitor and track constituency and government projects in their communities to prevent corruption, such as low-quality work or abandoned projects.

Mr. Sulaimon noted with delight, “When NACC members take ownership of project monitoring, it ensures higher standards of execution and long-term preservation,”.

Mr. Kingsley Obi, Head of the External Cooperation Unit, reiterated that NACC serves as a coordination platform for CSOs and NGOs in tracking corruption and was not a parallel authority to ICPC. Rather, the coalition operates under the direct oversight of the ICPC to support its anti-corruption mission.

NACC, a coalition of CSOs, acts as an outreach arm of the ICPC, promoting anti-corruption education, public awareness, and preventive measures aimed at curbing corruption across Nigeria.