The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has urged the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the Whistleblower Bill as part of ongoing efforts to free Nigeria from corruption.
The Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu made the appeal in Kano during a one-day engagement with selected media practitioners from the Northwest and Northeast.
The themed of the engagement is “From Resistance to Results: Citizens and Media Leading the Anti-Corruption Fight.”
Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu explained that the bill, once passed, would empower citizens to report corruption without fear of reprisal and ensure legal protection for whistleblowers.
He further urged the media to leverage their platforms in amplifying anti-corruption messages, urging journalists to pursue investigative reporting, hold leaders accountable with facts, and avoid sensationalism that could undermine public trust.
“Preventing corruption is not just about governance—it is about peace, trust, and development. By strengthening ICPC’s capacity, we are not only blocking leakages but also ensuring that resources reach citizens who need them most,” he stated.
As part of its enforcement drive, the Commission disclosed that it has confiscated 14 buildings, 25 plots of land, and three farmlands suspected to be proceeds of crime in the Northwest region. Additionally, cash recoveries included ₦7.269 billion in the Northwest, ₦43.335 million in the Northeast, and $1.066 million in the Northwest.
The ICPC Boss also revealed that a total of 1,440 projects, valued at approximately ₦271.054 billion, were tracked under the Commission’s constituency and executive project monitoring initiative. Of these, 767 projects worth ₦112.737 billion were in the Northeast, while 673 projects valued at ₦158.317 billion were in the Northwest.
“The real story in project tracking is this: citizens and journalists who flagged abandoned projects made these interventions possible, ensuring resources reached the intended beneficiaries,” he said.
Highlighting ICPC’s three-pronged mandate—enforcement, prevention, and public education—Dr. Aliyu noted that the engagement was designed to strengthen the third pillar by mobilising citizens to take ownership of the anti-corruption fight.
Citing a UNODC-NBS survey, the ICPC Boss disclosed that the Northwest recorded the highest bribe refusal rate in Nigeria at 76%, while the Northeast recorded 60%.
He described this as evidence of growing public resilience against corruption.
“Equally encouraging is the rising courage to report corruption. Reports of bribery in the Northern zones increased from 4.7% in 2019 to 13.4% in 2023. More importantly, the share of these reports leading to formal action almost tripled—from 16% in 2019 to 43% in 2023.
These are not just statistics; they tell real stories of Nigerians refusing to be exploited,” the ICPC Chairman added.
COV: Adamu Yusuf
