The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced the launch of a new initiative to monitor how funds disbursed to Nigeria’s 774 local governments are utilised, as the federal government prepares to begin direct allocation of funds to them.
The initiative, tagged the Accountability and Corruption Prevention Programme for Local Governments (ACPP-LG), was launched on Thursday in Abuja. It is aimed at preventing the embezzlement of public funds and ensuring transparency and accountability in the local government system.
Speaking at the launch, ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu emphasized the critical role of local governments in national development, stating that over 60 per cent of corruption cases investigated at the local level involve the diversion of development funds. He described the ACPP-LG as a crucial intervention to improve governance, enhance financial management, and prevent fund misuse.
“This decision ensures the direct disbursement of funds to local councils, removing undue state interference and creating a crucial opportunity for governance reform,” Mr Aliyu said.
Also at the event, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, represented by Director of Public Prosecution M.B. Abubakar, said the initiative aligns with the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling affirming the financial autonomy of local governments. He described the court decision as a significant step toward liberating the third tier of government from state control and enhancing grassroots development.
Similarly, lawmakers including the Chair of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, Kayode Akiolu, and the Chair of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, Emmanuel Udende, expressed strong support for the programme. They pledged legislative backing to promote accountability and ensure that public funds lead to tangible development at the local level.
For decades, local governments in Nigeria have struggled with financial dependence on state governments, which often withhold or divert their federal allocations.
The Supreme Court’s July 2024 ruling mandated the direct transfer of funds to local councils, declaring state-level interference illegal and unconstitutional.
Despite the ruling, several states have yet to implement the judgement, prompting the federal government to set up an inter-ministerial committee to oversee enforcement.
The ICPC’s new monitoring initiative is seen as a major step towards ensuring that local governments fulfil their constitutional role of delivering basic services and development directly to the Nigerian people.
