BLESSING OMALE, Abuja
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has unveiled a new performance and accountability roadmap aimed at strengthening its operational effectiveness and rebuilding public trust in Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight.
The roadmap emerged from the Commission’s 2026 Management and Board Retreat held in Niger State, where top ICPC officials, board members and strategic partners converged to review past performance and chart a clearer path for measurable results.
The two-day retreat, held at the Royal Institute for Training and Human Capital Development Limited, Zuma Rock Resort, was themed “Enhancing Institutional Effectiveness: Leadership, Performance and Public Trust.” It was formally opened by the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN.
Participants included members of the ICPC Board, the Secretary to the Commission, departmental and unit heads, as well as Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioners from state offices nationwide.
The retreat also attracted key stakeholders from the justice sector, development partners and sister anti-corruption agencies.
In his opening address, Dr. Aliyu described the retreat as a turning point for the Commission, stressing that the ICPC would henceforth be assessed not by effort, but by concrete outcomes.
According to him, the Commission must deliver investigations that lead to convictions, preventive interventions that decisively block systemic corruption loopholes, and sustained public education capable of driving behavioural change.
“The eyes of the nation are upon us. Corruption remains the single most grave obstacle to Nigeria’s development, and the ICPC is the shield upon which the hopes of many rest,” the chairman said.
He challenged the leadership to transform the ICPC from a merely functional institution into a formidable anti-corruption force driven by boldness, innovation and a willingness to challenge the status quo.
Dr. Aliyu outlined key outcomes expected from the retreat, including the adoption of a ‘Zuma Declaration’ that will commit management to specific performance benchmarks for 2026, the strengthening of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, improved inter-departmental collaboration and the development of a clear digital transformation roadmap.
Goodwill messages delivered at the event reinforced the call for accountability and institutional reform.
The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello, commended the ICPC leadership for what he described as the courage to confront internal and systemic challenges.
Similarly, Dr. Emmanuel Uche of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC), implemented by International IDEA, said the retreat was timely given the evolving and increasingly complex nature of corruption in Nigeria.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Roger Koranteng, Adviser and Head of the Public Sector Governance and Peace Directorate at the Commonwealth Secretariat, London.
Speaking on “Positioning African Anti-Corruption Agencies for Global Effectiveness: The Way Forward for ICPC,” Koranteng noted that corruption thrives in silence but weakens under sustained, courageous and collective action.
A major session titled “Institutional Integrity in Anti-Corruption Agencies: Lessons from the Bench” was led by Hon. Justice Chidiebere N. Uwa of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
He emphasised that integrity within anti-corruption agencies is built daily through fairness, accountability and transparency, anchored on strict adherence to due process.
Another presentation was delivered by Dr. Umar Yakubu, Director of the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, who underscored the importance of strong internal controls and fiscal discipline in the fight against corruption.
The retreat ended with a collective resolve to translate deliberations into concrete action, as the ICPC leadership pledged to strengthen internal systems, improve performance and deepen the Commission’s impact within Nigeria’s anti-corruption landscape.
The Commission said outcomes from the retreat would guide its priorities and reforms throughout 2026.
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