The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has called for a strengthened partnership with the media, even as it recorded significant anti-corruption wins—including the recovery of over ₦37.44 billion and $2.35 million in 2025, underscoring the need for sustained collaboration to consolidate progress and reinvigorate Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive.
The Chairman of the ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu made the appeal during his welcome address at a joint workshop organised by the Commission and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), held on Thursday in Abuja.
He described the media as a cornerstone of the anti-corruption framework, highlighting the critical roles journalists play as watchdogs, agenda‑setters, and catalysts for institutional reform.
Aliyu cautioned that without a vibrant, responsible, and ethical press, the fight against corruption risks losing one of its most formidable pillars and urged media practitioners to uphold accuracy, fairness, and professionalism as a means of sustaining public trust.
The workshop, themed “Reinvigorating the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2022–2026): A Post-Assessment Roadmap for the Fourth Estate,” was conceived as a strategic platform to deepen collaboration, generate actionable insights, and reinforce the media’s role in anti-corruption governance.
The ICPC chairman noted that prevention remains the most effective approach to tackling corruption, pointing to the Commission’s Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI) as a key intervention tool.
He disclosed that the Commission had monitored approximately 950 projects across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with a combined value of around ₦415.25 billion.
In addition, projects under the Federal Ministry of Works, valued at over ₦21.23 trillion, were also tracked. According to him, “These interventions have exposed abandoned and underperforming projects, compelled contractors to return to site, and strengthened accountability in public service delivery.”
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Umaru Pate underscored the media’s indispensable role in reinforcing Nigeria’s anti-corruption architecture, characterising corruption as an economic, governance, and moral challenge that continues to hinder national development.
He acknowledged measurable progress, noting that in addition to the recoveries made by the ICPC in 2025, surveys indicate that 70 per cent of Nigerians refused to pay bribes in 2023, a sign of growing public resistance to corrupt practices.
Professor Pate identified key impediments to the effective implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2022–2026), including weak inter-agency coordination, low public awareness, inadequate media engagement, political interference, and judicial delays.
He stressed that corruption cannot be tackled through prosecution alone; rather, it demands preventive systems, transparency, and active citizen participation.
Pate proposed a roadmap for journalists, urging them to embrace data-driven reporting, strengthen collaboration with anti-corruption agencies, uphold ethical standards, promote civic education, and advocate for the protection and safety of journalists.
He also called for intensified scrutiny of public procurement, budget implementation, asset declarations, and election financing.
The National President of the NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, advocated for sustained cross-sector collaboration in the fight against corruption, noting that coordinated efforts would help reshape public perception and entrench a culture of accountability and responsible journalism.
Goodwill messages from the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, delivered by the Director‑General of the Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Baba Ndace—and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, Senator Emmanuel Udende—represented by the Clerk of the Committee, Emnike Uboh—among other dignitaries, reinforced the need for deeper synergy between journalists and anti-corruption agencies. Speakers emphasised that such collaboration must be anchored in professionalism, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to promoting accountability and integrity.
(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
