In efforts to enhance Nigeria’s fight against corruption, the Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have agreed to explore areas of partnership during a courtesy visit at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The Center was received by the Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu, Esq. on behalf of the Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, with conversation focusing on how both organizations can deepen Nigeria’s implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) by utilizing the Center’s CSO monitoring framework, and promote transparency in governance, utilizing the Center’s Transparency and Integrity Index as a key tool for monitoring and evaluation.
During the visit, the Executive Director, Dr. Umar Yakubu expressed the Center’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s institutional frameworks by leveraging its expertise in transparency advocacy. He said that the Center’s Transparency and Integrity Index, a data-driven tool designed to measure transparency across different levels of government, remains an invaluable resource for assessing the country’s progress in implementing anti-corruption measures.
Dr. Yakubu sought the Commission’s support to drive LGA compliance with the Index, as a means of ensuring the effective management of local government resources, particularly in light of the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on July 11, which granted local governments financial autonomy.
Remarking on behalf of the ICPC, the Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Oparaodu affirmed the Commission’s commitment to working closely with the Center to advance shared goals. He noted that the fight against corruption is a collective responsibility, and strategic partnerships are essential for creating sustainable solutions. He acknowledged the value of the Center’s work in advancing transparency and integrity in governance and expressed optimism that the collaboration would yield significant results in the long term.
By working with the ICPC, the Center hopes to amplify its anticorruption impact that will result in a more transparent, accountable governance structure at all levels, especially at the local level where financial mismanagement is often prevalent, but overlooked. We also look forward to developing actionable strategies to implement Nigeria’s commitment to the UNCAC more effectively, as we integrate civil society framework and government efforts.