Abuja: The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Musa Aliyu, has emphasised the Commission’s dedication to enhancing institutional frameworks across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs). Mr. Aliyu made this statement during the presentation of the First Nigerian Local Government Integrity Index Report by the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity in Abuja. He described the initiative as a timely and valuable tool for improving transparency and accountability at the grassroots level.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the ICPC Chairman noted that the Commission would analyse the report’s findings and incorporate relevant innovations into its newly launched program, Accountability and Corruption Prevention in Local Governments (ACCP-LG). ‘We will use this Index Report to address issues related to transparency, accountability, and local government finances. Our aim is to strengthen frameworks in local governments to ensure they provide impactful services to the community,’ he stated.
The Executive Director of the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, Mr. Umar Yakubu, presented the report, revealing a significant governance crisis in Nigeria’s local government system. The study found that 85 percent of LGAs are categorized as ‘Very High’ or ‘Critical’ risk, indicating widespread opacity, weak enforcement mechanisms, and inadequate service delivery.
The Index evaluated LGAs based on eight pillars: fiscal transparency, resource Mobilisation, anti-corruption enforcement, post-election governance, civic oversight, public service outcomes, digital infrastructure, and security environment. Key highlights from the report include systemic integrity failures, with six hundred and fifty-eight LGAs (85%) ranked in Tiers 4 and 5 (‘Very High’ and ‘Critical’ risk). Only four LGAs (0.5%) were in Tier 1 (‘Low Risk’), with Nasarawa LGA achieving the highest transparency score of 15/100.
Port Harcourt LGA in Rivers State scored 92/100 but lacked a functional website and showed instances of FOI denials, poor disclosures, and a history of violence and alleged election manipulation. While most states were categorised as ‘Very High Risk,’ exceptions included Lagos, Jigawa, Nasarawa, and Kaduna.
Mr. Yakubu made several urgent recommendations, including direct fund allocations from the Nigerian Government to LGAs without state interference, mandatory quarterly transparency audits for high-risk LGAs, and the adoption of open contracting, asset disclosure frameworks, and digital governance platforms. The event highlighted ICPC’s continued collaboration with civil society organisations and other stakeholders to leverage research and verifiable data in strengthening Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts and providing credible information to the public.