Nigeria’s ICPC Urges Stronger Integrity Partnerships to Strengthen Africa’s Anti-Corruption Framework

Anti-graft agency calls for coordinated action among regulators, businesses, civil society and citizens as stakeholders push for stronger accountability systems and preventive compliance measures.

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has called for a coordinated, multi-sector approach to strengthening integrity systems and combating corruption across Africa.

Aliyu said sustainable progress in the fight against corruption requires collaboration among governments, anti-corruption institutions, regulatory bodies, the private sector, civil society organisations, the media and citizens.

He made the call during the commemoration of the African Union Anti-Corruption Day held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, themed “Scaling Up the Promotion of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Actions Across Africa.”

According to him, the theme reflects Africa’s shared commitment to building governance systems anchored on transparency, accountability, ethical conduct and respect for the rule of law.

Integrity as the Foundation of Compliance

The ICPC Chairman said corruption remains a significant governance and development challenge, undermining public trust, weakening institutions and limiting resources available for economic and social development.

He referenced findings from the 2025 Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Centre (CAACC) study, which revealed that 80 per cent of respondents across 14 African countries believe corruption occurs always or frequently.

Aliyu said the findings demonstrate that integrity promotion must move beyond policy commitments and become a practical requirement embedded within institutions, businesses and public systems.

“Promoting integrity is not merely aspirational; it is an evidence-based imperative,” he said.

From a compliance perspective, stakeholders noted that corruption risks are often enabled by weak internal controls, ineffective oversight structures and limited accountability mechanisms. Strengthening integrity therefore requires institutions to develop systems that prevent misconduct before it occurs.

Strengthening Preventive Anti-Corruption Controls

Aliyu highlighted the ICPC’s continued focus on prevention, enforcement and public education as key components of Nigeria’s anti-corruption strategy.

He said the Commission has continued to work with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other stakeholders to improve institutional integrity and reduce opportunities for corrupt practices.

The ICPC Chairman also highlighted youth-focused integrity initiatives, including anti-corruption lectures for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), integrity clubs in secondary schools, and partnerships with universities and the Nigerian Law School to integrate anti-corruption education into professional training.

He noted that these initiatives align with the CAACC study, which identified public awareness campaigns, education and school-based integrity programmes as among the most effective tools for preventing corruption.

Corruption as a Financial and Development Risk

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Director of the Solicitors Department at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Gladys Odegbaro, described corruption as a major obstacle to national development.

She noted that corruption diverts resources away from critical sectors including infrastructure, healthcare, education, food security and social protection while weakening democratic institutions and reducing citizens’ confidence in government.

Odegbaro stressed that integrity remains the foundation of effective governance and public confidence, adding that strengthening institutions, improving transparency, modernising the criminal justice system and deploying technology are critical measures in reducing corruption vulnerabilities.

Whole-of-Society Approach to Governance

Head of the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR), Mrs. Jane Onwumere, said the African Union Anti-Corruption Day provides an opportunity for stakeholders to renew their commitment to stronger accountability frameworks.

She emphasised that integrity promotion is not the sole responsibility of government agencies but requires active participation from businesses, professional institutions, civil society organisations and citizens.

The event brought together representatives from key governance and accountability institutions, including the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).

Discussions focused on strengthening anti-corruption mechanisms across Africa, including the role of whistleblower protection, institutional safeguards and citizen participation in promoting accountability.

Compliance Outlook

The discussions reinforce the growing recognition that anti-corruption compliance is central to effective governance, investor confidence and institutional resilience.

For organisations operating in both public and private sectors, stronger integrity frameworks require effective ethics programmes, third-party risk management, transparent procurement systems, whistleblower protection mechanisms and continuous monitoring of corruption risks.

As African economies pursue stronger institutions and improved governance outcomes, stakeholders agreed that collaboration across sectors remains essential to building systems where transparency, accountability and ethical leadership become embedded operational standards rather than compliance obligations alone.