In the past year, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission (ICPC) has intercepted and recovered a total of N30 billion allocated for constituency projects.
These funds, intended for various public initiatives, were reportedly diverted by certain lawmakers.
The recoveries were made under the Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI) Phase 7, which was conducted from December 2023 to December 2024.
Launched in 2015, CEPTI tracks the implementation and effectiveness of constituency projects, focusing on areas like education, health, water resources, agriculture, infrastructure, and power to promote accountability.
According to the ICPC report, the agency tracked 1,500 projects across 22 states. The total value of these projects was N610 billion, from which the ICPC saved N30 billion, recovered N360 million in cash, and seized assets worth N400 million.
In addition to these recoveries, the ICPC’s Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS) for 2024 rated several Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for their ethical performance.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) received the highest ratings, achieving compliance scores of 89.75%, 89.33%, and 88.73%, respectively.
However, the ICPC also identified several institutions that performed poorly in the evaluation, scoring zero points, indicating non-compliance. These included the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the Nigeria Press Council (NPC), the Legal Aid Council (LAC), the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), and the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).
Additionally, universities such as the Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, Obafemi Awolowo University, and others were among those with the lowest scores. ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare emphasized that the EICS is designed to foster transparency, accountability, and integrity within government institutions, contributing to the fight against corruption.
During a press briefing, Bakare stated that the commission would continue to reward MDAs with strong compliance records while holding non-compliant institutions accountable through enforcement actions.
The ICPC aims to continue promoting integrity and accountability across the public sector, ensuring that government institutions adhere to ethical standards and anti-corruption measures. Bakare added, “We are certain that these efforts will continue to underline ICPC’s dedication to enhancing good governance and preventing corruption.”
The commission also revealed that it had recovered a total of N53.1 billion in cash and assets over the past year. This included N29.7 billion in cash, which was deposited in ICPC recovery accounts, N10.986 billion in VAT recovered and remitted to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and N10 billion from the Covid-19 vaccine fund, which was meant for vaccine production but had been diverted. The ICPC also recovered assets valued at N2.5 billion. Furthermore, the agency intercepted foreign currency amounting to $966,900.83 during its systems study and review of 323 MDAs.
The ICPC chairman, Dr. Musa Aliyu, highlighted that the commission had assessed 323 MDAs through its EICS, aiming to reinforce its anti-corruption efforts by establishing 80 Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs) across various government agencies. Dr. Aliyu also noted that the commission had successfully halted the diversion of public funds totaling N5.882 billion. Over the past year, ICPC processed 851 petitions, assigned 342 for investigation, completed investigations on 95 cases, filed 72 cases in court, and secured 16 convictions. He further emphasized the commission’s commitment to improving the speed and effectiveness of its prosecutions, including the revival of long-pending cases. Dr. Aliyu said, “In this regard, we are streamlining our processes to ensure faster and more effective prosecution of cases, leading to the resuscitation of 10-15-year-old cases in courts.”
In addition to its ongoing efforts, the ICPC has advanced the fight against sexual harassment and corruption within educational institutions and public offices. The commission continues to prosecute cases related to these issues and has gained increased public support for its efforts.
Civil society organizations (CSOs) have urged the ICPC to take stronger actions against individuals involved in the diversion of constituency project funds. The convener of the Coalition of Anti-Corruption Group, Martins Udeh, called for harsh penalties, including imprisonment, for those caught misappropriating project funds for personal gain. Similarly, Philip Ajah, chairman of the Transparency Organisation Network Nigeria, emphasized the need for public accountability, stating that those involved in constituency project diversion should be publicly named, shamed, and prosecuted.
The ICPC’s actions in recovering misallocated funds and promoting integrity within government institutions underline its critical role in fighting corruption and enhancing public sector transparency in Nigeria.
