The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has identified corruption as the most serious challenge currently confronting Nigeria, stressing that the menace must be addressed decisively for the country to achieve meaningful development.
Aliyu, who noted that corruption is a global challenge, said Nigeria is not exempt from its consequences and must take deliberate steps to curb the practice.
The ICPC Chairman stated this on Thursday in Abuja while delivering a lecture titled “Anti-corruption Reforms, Economic Stability and Effective Communication,” organised by Economic Confidential.
The legal practitioner called for stronger use of legal instruments in the fight against corruption, noting that the country continues to lose millions of dollars through bribery and other corrupt practices.
He expressed concern that some public officials, who ought to serve as role models for younger Nigerians, are deeply involved in economic crimes, allegedly using consultants as intermediaries to facilitate corrupt activities.
Aliyu recalled a major case uncovered by the ICPC in 2012 involving $65 million allocated for the construction of houses for public officers to address accommodation challenges.
According to him, instead of applying the funds for the intended purpose, those responsible allegedly diverted the money and abandoned the objective for which it was released.
Speaking on the economic consequences of corruption, the ICPC Chairman warned that the country would struggle to attract investors if the menace remained widespread, stressing that investors would be reluctant to commit their resources to an environment where corruption thrives.
On the commission’s strategy for tackling economic crimes, Aliyu said the ICPC would intensify efforts to strengthen weak systems that have continued to undermine the growth and development of the Nigerian economy.
He also expressed concern over the recent discovery of a fake government agency, saying that a stronger institutional system supported by effective due diligence would have exposed the operation earlier.
The ICPC Chairman further disclosed that weaknesses in the country’s systems had allowed projects to be inserted into government agencies without implementation, resulting in the loss of value for money. He said contractors whose unexecuted projects are identified would henceforth be compelled to carry out the assignments.
Aliyu also condemned the persistence of the “ghost workers” syndrome, revealing that investigations by the commission had uncovered cases where unpatriotic civil servants allegedly used their children and other family members as ghost workers in government employment.
He recalled the discovery in 2024 of N24 billion reportedly linked to ghost workers’ pensions, adding that one individual had allegedly enrolled 14 family members and was receiving 13 salaries.
The ICPC Chairman said no individual had so far come forward to claim the N24 billion or approach the court to establish ownership of the funds.
Aliyu urged Nigerians to begin the anti-corruption campaign from the primary school level by educating pupils about the dangers and consequences of corruption. He said early exposure to such values could encourage children to reject corrupt practices as they grow older.
“Nigeria can capture corruption and a solid foundation will come up for the country on integrity. The Damaging effect of corruption is too much and must not be allowed to thrive. ICPC will now focus on the weak system that is promoting corruption through constituency projects, ghost workers and sanitise the entire system.
Earlier, the lead organiser of the Economic Confidential Lecture, Mallam Yushau Shuaib, said the lecture was organised as part of efforts to strengthen the fight against economic crimes.
Shuaib added that Nigerians who had distinguished themselves in their respective fields would be recognised as a way of providing motivation and serving as morale boosters to others across the country.
