ICPC Chairman Calls for Bridging Policy-Practice Gap to Strengthen Anti-Corruption Mechanisms
Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has declared that strengthening anti-corruption mechanisms requires closing the divide between “high-level policy and everyday practice”.
Dr. Aliyu made the remarks at a three-day National Anti-corruption Conference in Kano, organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption.
The event, themed “Operationalising Policy Statements into Practice: Strengthening Anti-Corruption Mechanisms in Government”, brought together key stakeholders from across federal ministries, departments and agencies.
Represented at the occasion by the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner for the ICPC Kano State Office, Barrister Ahmad Muhammad Wada, the ICPC Chairman stressed that bolstering government mechanisms demands far more than mere oversight.
He outlined several critical requirements, including:
1. Institutional integrity – ensuring internal audit and control units are not merely functional on paper but genuinely empowered in practice.
2. Technological integration – reducing human discretion through digital transparency to minimise opportunities for malfeasance.
3. Accountability culture – shifting from a reactive stance to a proactive ethos where transparency becomes the default setting of public service.
“Let our discussions move beyond the theoretical,” Dr. Aliyu urged. “Share practical templates, identify the bottlenecks that stall policy execution, and forge a united front that translates our collective resolve into tangible results for the Nigerian people.”
He noted that the Conference had come at a pivotal time for the nation’s anti-corruption fight.
In his address, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, PhD, described the Conference theme as “not merely a collection of words” but “a mirror held to the soul of our democratic governance”.
Represented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Downstream, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, the Speaker emphasised the legislature’s central role. “The legislature is the first line of defence in this fight,” he said. “Our job is not merely to make laws, but to make them work. We are the bridge between the aspirations of the people and the administration of the state.”
He elaborated on responsibilities across branches of government:
1. For the executive – ensuring procurement processes are digital, transparent and free from human interference.
2. For the judiciary – fast-tracking corruption cases to guarantee that justice is not only done, but seen to be done without delay.
Over the three days, participants from various federal ministries, departments and agencies engaged with paper presentations on three thematic pillars:
1. Strengthening institutional frameworks and oversight
2. Digitalisation and technology as catalysts for change
3. Sector-specific implementation strategies
Each session concluded with robust question-and-answer segments, reflecting a shared commitment to moving from policy rhetoric to practical, measurable outcomes in Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive.
