ICPC Recovers N5.3bn from Local Government Accounts in Seven States, FCT

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recovered more than ₦5.3bn from local government accounts in seven states and the Federal Capital Territory following reviews of their financial records.

The commission also announced plans to ensure that all 774 local government areas in the country publish their financial records and other relevant information online to strengthen transparency and accountability at the grassroots.

ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed this on Thursday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, during the launch of the ICPC-National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Local Government Websites Pilot.

He said the initiative, which commenced in Nasarawa, would be extended nationwide, providing residents, journalists and oversight institutions with easier access to information on how local government funds were managed.

Aliyu explained that the recovery of the funds highlighted the scale of financial irregularities at the grassroots and the importance of monitoring public resources to prevent corruption.

He noted that the Supreme Court's July 2024 judgment affirming local government financial autonomy and directing the direct payment of statutory allocations to councils had increased the need for accountability in managing public funds.

According to him, the proposed websites would require councils to publish information on their budgets, statutory allocations, internally generated revenue, expenditure, audit reports and debts.

Other disclosures would cover public procurement, human resources, citizen engagement, whistleblowing channels and anti-corruption measures.

The ICPC chairman said regular publication of these records would enable citizens to track public spending, help journalists ask informed questions and allow oversight institutions to identify potential financial risks before they resulted in losses.

He urged council chairmen to appoint dedicated officers to manage the platforms and ensure that information published was accurate and regularly updated.

Aliyu added that NITDA would provide the technological infrastructure, including domain registration, website development and hosting for at least one year, while the ICPC would establish the content standards and accountability framework.

He stressed that the commission's involvement was intended to promote corruption prevention rather than witch-hunt local government authorities, adding that lessons from the Nasarawa pilot would guide the nationwide rollout.

In his remarks, NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the initiative would improve governance, citizen engagement and economic opportunities by making government information more accessible.

He explained that residents in remote communities often faced difficulties and incurred significant transportation costs to obtain information about local government projects or lodge complaints.

Abdullahi said the agency would establish technical standards, develop website templates and train citizens to support the initiative's implementation and sustainability.

He reiterated NITDA's commitment to developing and hosting websites for all 774 local government areas for at least one year.

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, who flagged off the initiative, designated the Nasarawa State Information Technology and Digital Economy Agency as the state's technical partner.

Sule directed local government councils to verify information before uploading it and ensure that their platforms remained accessible and regularly updated.

He said the initiative's success would be measured by the availability, accuracy and usefulness of published information rather than the launch of the websites.

The governor also urged the ICPC and NITDA to extend the transparency initiative to state governments, offering Nasarawa as the first state to publish similar financial disclosures.

He said making allocations and financial records public would enable citizens to establish whether funds meant for local governments were being withheld or delayed.

The Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Danladi Jatau, pledged the legislature's support, noting that the Constitution empowered the Assembly to oversee local government finances.

The Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I (retd.), also commended the ICPC, NITDA and the Nasarawa State Government for the initiative.

The flag-off ceremony was followed by a technical session on the standardised website template for local government councils.