How ICPC Uncovered Financial Irregularities, Recovered ₦5.3bn From LG Accounts in Seven States, FCT

How ICPC Uncovered Financial Irregularities, Recovered ₦5.3bn From LG Accounts in Seven States, FCT

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

The commission also disclosed plans to collaborate with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to ensure that all 774 local government areas in Nigeria publish their financial records and other relevant information online.

The ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu, announced the development on Thursday in Nasarawa State during the launch of the ICPC-NITDA Local Government Websites Pilot.

In a statement issued by the commission’s spokesperson, John Odey, Aliyu said the initiative was designed to strengthen transparency, accountability and public oversight at the grassroots through digital disclosure.

He explained that the recovery of over ₦5.3 billion exposed the financial risks associated with local government administration and demonstrated the importance of effective scrutiny in preventing the diversion and mismanagement of public funds.

According to him, the commission’s initiative combines financial oversight with preventive measures by making local government financial records accessible to the public.

Aliyu noted that the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment affirming the financial autonomy of local government councils, including the direct payment of their statutory allocations, had further heightened the need for transparency in the management of public resources.

“Autonomy brings responsibility. Funds that now flow directly to the councils must be spent openly and for the benefit of the people,” he said.

He explained that the proposed websites would require local government councils to disclose their budgets, statutory allocations, internally generated revenue, expenditure, audit reports, debts, procurement activities and human resource records.

The platforms would also provide channels for citizens to engage with their councils and report suspected cases of financial misconduct.

The ICPC chairman said the digital platforms would empower residents, journalists and oversight institutions to track public expenditure, demand accountability and identify potential irregularities before they result in financial losses.

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

Aliyu urged local government chairmen to designate responsible officers to manage the websites and ensure that all published information was accurate, reliable and regularly updated.

He stressed that the initiative was intended as a partnership for preventing corruption rather than an instrument for witch-hunting public officials.

Speaking at the event, NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the initiative would promote effective governance, improve citizen engagement and create economic opportunities through digital inclusion.

He observed that digital platforms would make it easier for residents to obtain information about government projects, access public records and submit complaints without unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles.

“Our people are online; therefore, government needs to be online to serve them better,” he said.

Abdullahi said NITDA would develop operational standards, provide website templates and facilitate training for citizens, noting that the programme would eventually extend to all 774 local government areas.

He emphasised that the objective went beyond establishing websites to building digitally empowered local governments capable of delivering improved public services.

“Our ambition is not 774 websites. It is 774 digitally empowered local governments delivering better experience to millions of Nigerians,” he said.

The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, who performed the official launch, designated the Nasarawa State Information Technology and Digital Economy Agency as the state’s technical partner for the initiative.

Sule directed local government councils to ensure the accuracy of information uploaded to their respective platforms and appoint officers responsible for verifying records before publication.

He maintained that the effectiveness of the programme should be measured by the accessibility, accuracy and usefulness of the information provided to citizens rather than the mere establishment of websites.

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

He said greater financial disclosure would enable citizens to identify how funds allocated to local governments were being managed and determine whether public resources were reaching their intended destinations.

By PRNigeria