Abuja: Musa Aliyu, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has called on procurement officers to embrace ‘radical transparency’ as a measure to curb the annual loss of billions of naira due to corruption.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the chairman made this appeal during a one-day procurement engagement workshop held in Abuja, organized by the commission for directors and heads of procurement in government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). The workshop aimed to initiate and share strategies to address the numerous infractions discovered during ICPC’s project tracking exercises across MDAs.
Represented by the Secretary, Mr. Clifford Oparaodu, Aliyu cautioned that without decisive measures, public procurement, which constitutes 10 to 25 percent of the nation’s GDP, will continue to be the ‘single largest conduit for corruption.’ He pointed out various malpractices plaguing the system, such as contract splitting, over-invoicing, phantom contracts, and abandoned projects that dissipate funds meant for development.
The chairman highlighted the 2019 launch of the Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI), which monitored projects across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. CEPTI unveiled structural issues such as projects on private property, personal companies executing government work, and duplicated contracts. However, it also led to positive outcomes such as functional schools, operational boreholes, completed health centers, and solar streetlights serving rural areas.
Aliyu emphasized the need for full enforcement of the Public Procurement Act of 2007, which established the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) as the regulatory authority, especially at sub-national levels where compliance is inconsistent. He proposed several measures to strengthen the system including publishing annual procurement plans, disclosing bidder lists, providing regular progress reports with photographic evidence, and issuing completion certificates.
He also advocated for open competitive bidding, multi-stakeholder evaluation committees, and independent verification of contractor capacity. Despite promoting e-procurement as a transformative tool, Aliyu warned that technology alone is insufficient without political will, adequate funding, capacity building, and robust change management.
The chairman called on legislators to exercise stronger oversight, close loopholes in the Procurement Act, and support the establishment of a Special Crimes Court for expedited corruption prosecution. He urged procurement officers to adopt transparency as a professional ethic, implement stringent internal controls, resist political pressure, and report suspected fraud via the ICPC’s confidential hotline.
Aliyu reaffirmed ICPC’s commitment to the anti-corruption fight, stating that Nigeria stands at a crossroads to either continue on a path of opacity or embrace transparency and accountability. He concluded with a powerful message: ‘Corruption thrives in darkness; let us flood the system with light.’
Supporting the chairman’s stance, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General of BPP, commended ICPC for enhancing compliance with procurement rules. He highlighted the recent approval of the National Infrastructure Development Policy, which provides a stronger legal framework for prosecuting substandard project contractors.
Prof. Samson Duna, Director-General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), noted that many building collapses in Nigeria result from substandard materials. He praised ICPC’s role in improving documentation and contractor compliance and suggested extending the rotation period of ICPC desk officers for more effective oversight.
The workshop concluded with interactive discussions and networking among stakeholders, marking a renewed commitment to transparency, accountability, and improved public service delivery. Some participants pledged to implement the workshop’s recommendations to sanitize the procurement ecosystem and deliver essential infrastructure to millions still awaiting basic services.
Aminu Yakubu, Director of Procurement in NASRDA, described the workshop as a wake-up call, reminding officials of the consequences of not adhering to established rules. Ugochukwu Nwogute, Head of Procurement Unit at the News Agency of Nigeria, said the workshop was a wonderful initiative by ICPC to ensure procurement officers are aligned in their operations.