ICPC Chair Seeks Increased Funding, Raises Alarm Over Staff Kidnapping
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, has appealed to the Nigerian Senate to significantly increase the commission’s budgetary allocation, warning that persistent underfunding is crippling anti-corruption efforts and exposing operatives to serious security risks.
Dr. Aliyu made the appeal on Tuesday during the ICPC’s 2026 budget defence before the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, where he disclosed that a staff member of the commission was kidnapped just days earlier and remains in captivity, highlighting the dangers faced by officers in the course of their duties.
According to him, the commission has continued nationwide operations despite severe financial constraints arising from repeated budget cuts and poor releases.
“Without adequate funding, there is no way this agency can function effectively,” the ICPC chairman told the committee. “Our staff morale is very low. They handle highly sensitive and risky cases, yet they are poorly supported.”
He revealed that although the commission recorded a high utilisation rate of funds released, the actual amounts made available were grossly inadequate to meet operational demands. Dr. Aliyu explained that funding shortfalls have, in some instances, forced investigators and prosecutors to personally finance investigations and court appearances, including payment of legal fees.
“Sometimes, our lawyers use their own money to go to court because once a matter is before the court, it must be pursued,” he said.
Despite these challenges, the ICPC chairman said the commission filed 72 cases during the period under review, currently manages over 400 ongoing criminal cases, received 1,177 petitions, assigned about 700 for investigation and completed investigations on 250 cases.
He added that the commission also carried out preventive and advisory interventions in 342 government agencies as part of its strategy to reduce corruption risks in public institutions.
Dr. Aliyu further appealed to the Senate committee to visit ICPC offices across the country to witness firsthand the poor state of infrastructure and working conditions, describing some facilities as “not fit for purpose.”
“I am appealing to this committee to intervene so that ICPC can have improved funding, better infrastructure and enhanced staff welfare,” he said, warning that continued neglect would undermine Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive and negatively affect the country’s global image.
Responding, the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, chaired by Senator Udenden Emmanuel, pledged to work towards improving the commission’s budgetary allocation to enable it to effectively discharge its statutory mandate.
