Nigeria’s ICPC recovers 5.3 billion naira from local accounts
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
Nigeria’s anti-corruption commission (ICPC) has recovered more than 5.3 billion naira from local government accounts in seven states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The operation, announced in Nasarawa during the launch of a programme to publish local government finances online with the Nigerian digital agency NITDA, is to cover all 774 local government areas in the country, according to spokesperson John Odey.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recovered more than 5.3 billion naira after reviewing the accounts of local governments in seven states and the Federal Capital Territory. Its chairman, Musa Aliyu, announced the amount Thursday in Nasarawa State, according to Punch.
The ICPC is working with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to have all 774 local governments in Nigeria publish their financial information online. The pilot scheme launched in Nasarawa is intended to strengthen transparency and allow residents, journalists and oversight bodies to monitor budgets, allocations, revenues, expenditure, audits, debts and procurement procedures.
Aliyu recalled that the Supreme Court’s July 2024 decision confirming the financial autonomy of local governments and the direct payment of their statutory allocations increases the requirements for oversight of public funds. NITDA is to provide the technological infrastructure needed to develop and host local government websites.
