Hobnob News, Abuja | July 29, 2025
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has raised the alarm over the widespread non-compliance of federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) with the directive to establish Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs).
In a presentation during an investigative hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption, the ICPC revealed that as of the end of 2024, 92 MDAs had yet to establish ACTUs, while 127 others had units that were either weak or ineffective. An additional five MDAs were found to have ACTUs only in name, offering no real impact on anti-corruption efforts within their institutions.
Representing the ICPC Chairman, Musa Ali, at the hearing, Mr. Olusegun Adigun noted that only 84 MDAs currently operate functional and effective ACTUs, which are critical to the government’s decentralized anti-corruption strategy.
Adigun cited major barriers such as lack of funding, political interference, low institutional support, and resistance to change as persistent challenges undermining ACTU performance.
“Despite these setbacks, the commission has implemented key strategies to curb corruption in public institutions,” he said. “But more needs to be done to empower these units with adequate resources and independence.”
House Leadership Calls for Institutional Integrity
Declaring the hearing open, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, represented by Umar Ajilo, emphasized the need to reinforce institutional ethics and restore public trust.
“We gather not merely as legislators, but as custodians of democracy and champions of integrity,” he stated. “Corruption continues to erode our institutions and stall national development. This session is a proactive step to assess performance and retool our systems.”
Abbas stressed that the effectiveness of ACTUs is directly linked to political will and institutional backing, calling for collective resolve to dismantle corruption networks.
ACTUs: A Bold But Underutilized Reform Tool
Chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, Hon. Kayode Akiolu, underscored the strategic importance of ACTUs, noting that they were first mandated by the Federal Government in 2001 and 2003 to serve as internal watchdogs within MDAs.
“ACTUs are a smart innovation — decentralising ICPC’s reach without bloating its workforce,” Akiolu noted. “However, while some units have excelled, others have either underperformed or, worse still, become compromised by the very corruption they were designed to combat.”
He added that the purpose of the hearing is not only to evaluate performance but also to send a clear message that “corruption has no place in our governance structures — whether from within or without.”
Civil Service Acknowledges Gaps, Lists Modest Gains
Speaking on behalf of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Esther Dido-Jack, the Director of Finance and Accounts, Emeka Aziwe, acknowledged that ACTUs still face significant hurdles. Nonetheless, he pointed out that several of the units have recorded meaningful progress and continue to serve as catalysts for internal reform.
The hearing marks a renewed effort by the National Assembly to strengthen institutional integrity and push for greater accountability across the civil service.
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