, Dr. Musa Aliyu){kind=link}
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu has urged key stakeholders in local governance to prioritise administrative reforms and capacity building as critical steps to enhance transparency and accountability in local government operations across Nigeria.
Dr. Aliyu made this call during a one-day dialogue organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in Abuja, where he revealed that the ICPC had uncovered several instances of public fund misappropriation, particularly 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 stated.
Welcoming the recent Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy, Dr. Aliyu described it as a significant step toward improving governance at the grassroots level.
However, he emphasised that effective implementation would require deliberate and united action from all relevant stakeholders.
To support this effort, Dr. Aliyu disclosed that the ICPC, in partnership with the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, launched the Accountability and Corruption Prevention Programme for Local Governments (ACPP-LG).
“This programme is designed to combat corruption at the local government level and promote accountability across five key thematic areas: fiscal transparency, human resources management, open procurement, citizen engagement, and corruption control,” he explained.
He called on Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), anti-corruption bodies, and professional associations such as the Nigerian Bar Association to protect the Supreme Court decision from being undermined through diversionary or frivolous legal actions.
Referencing the landmark case AG Ondo State v. AG Federation, Dr. Aliyu lamented the ongoing trend of filing fresh cases in lower courts that contradict established rulings, despite the Supreme Court’s clear affirmation of ICPC’s investigative powers.
He said, “The ICPC is determined to enforce the Supreme Court decision using the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, alongside other relevant laws and regulations. Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) mandates all persons and authorities, including the ICPC, to enforce the decisions of the Supreme Court on local government autonomy.”
Dr. Aliyu stressed that judicial precedent must remain a foundation of Nigeria’s legal system and warned against attempts to erode its authority. He urged legal practitioners to remain ethical and avoid being instruments in efforts to subvert landmark judgments such as AG Federation v. AG Abia State and Others.
He concluded by calling for ongoing collaboration, transparency, and strict adherence to constitutional mandates, asserting that these are vital to restoring trust and efficiency in Nigeria’s local government administration.
In his opening remarks, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), the dialogue’s convener, emphasised that ensuring local government autonomy is essential for the effective functioning of grassroots governance.
Hauwa Abu