The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission (ICPC) has successfully intercepted and recovered a staggering N30 billion intended for constituency projects that were diverted by lawmakers. This significant achievement was made during the Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI) phase 7, 2024, conducted between December 2023 and December 2024.
Under this initiative, which aims to promote accountability, ICPC monitored 1,500 projects in 22 states with a total project value of N610 billion. With this effort, the agency was able to save N30 billion, recover N360 million in cash, and seize assets worth N400 million that were acquired through corrupt practices, OBSERVERSTIMES report .
Additionally, ICPC’s Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS) rated organizations like JAMB, NRC, and NBET as leading examples of compliance in their 2024 assessment. During a recent press conference, the commission also revealed the results of an evaluation of 330 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) regarding their ethical standards, anti-corruption measures, and governance practices.
However, some institutions, including the Supreme Court of Nigeria and certain tertiary schools, were found to be non-compliant with the standards set by the ICPC. Moving forward, the commission remains committed to promoting integrity and accountability within government institutions, ensuring that non-compliant organizations face appropriate enforcement actions.
The ICPC recovered a total of N53.1 billion in cash and assets over the past year, including N29.7 billion in recovered cash and N10 billion from the Covid-19 vaccine fund. With ongoing efforts to enhance institutional accountability and combat corruption, the commission continues to make strides in promoting good governance across Nigeria.
In response to these revelations, civil society organizations are urging for stricter sanctions against individuals involved in the diversion of constituency project funds. The call for transparency, accountability, and swift prosecution of offenders resonates strongly within the Nigerian public and highlights the importance of upholding ethical standards in government projects.
