By Newspot Nigeria News Desk
In a bold move to enhance transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s legislative process, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced its commitment to collaborate with the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives. This partnership was formalized during the inaugural National Policy Dialogue on the Legislative Agenda of the House of Representatives, held on Monday.
Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, Chairman of the ICPC, highlighted the Commission’s willingness to support initiatives promoting open governance and transparency within the legislative framework. “Mr. Speaker, we want to assure you that, on our part, we are open to working with the National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives, to deepen transparency and accountability in your legislative agenda. Our doors are open to policies that promote transparency and ensure that the masses receive the dividends of democracy,” he emphasized.
Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker of the House of Representatives, echoed these sentiments, underscoring the House’s commitment to a transparent and citizen-driven legislature. He noted that the Policy Dialogue is a testament to their promise of engaging Nigerians, reporting on their performance, and aligning their actions with public expectations.
“This dialogue is part of our commitment. It serves as a prelude to the forthcoming Open NASS Week, during which we will open our doors to public scrutiny and present our midterm progress,” the Speaker said. He further elaborated on the House’s legislative agenda, which encompasses eight broad priority areas, including good governance, national security, economic revitalization, legal reforms, and social development.
The agenda, he noted, aligns with the “Renewed Hope” agenda of the Tinubu-led administration, ensuring synergy between the legislative and executive arms of government.
“We will uphold the same spirit of legislative courage that has brought us this far—the courage to enact necessary reforms for our nation’s progress, even when difficult,” he added.
The event also saw the participation of various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, development partners, and representatives from government agencies, who all expressed support for robust legislative frameworks promoting inclusivity and good governance.
Read the Full Statement Below:
INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICES AND OTHER RELATED OFFENCES COMMISSION (ICPC)
PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, 13th May 2025
ICPC, National Assembly to Collaborate on Transparency and Accountability in Legislative Agenda
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives, to promote transparency, open governance, and accountability in Nigeria’s legislative processes.
The Chairman of the ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, made this known on Monday during the inaugural National Policy Dialogue on the Legislative Agenda of the House of Representatives.
Dr. Aliyu stated that the ICPC, as an anti-corruption agency, is pleased to align with the House on initiatives that foster open governance and transparency, stressing, “Mr. Speaker, we want to assure you that, on our part, we are open to working with the National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives, to deepen transparency and accountability in your legislative agenda. Our doors are open to policies that promote transparency and ensure that the masses receive the dividends of democracy.”
In his remarks, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, emphasized that the Policy Dialogue reflects a shared commitment to fostering parliamentary transparency, accountability, and a citizen-driven legislature.
The Speaker said, “From the outset, we pledged to regularly engage with Nigerians, report on our performance, and adjust our direction based on public feedback. Today’s dialogue is part of that commitment. It also serves as a prelude to the forthcoming Open NASS Week, during which we will open our doors to public scrutiny and present our midterm progress.”
Continuing, he said, “The aim is not only to celebrate our achievements but also to critically examine areas needing improvement in the spirit of democratic inclusion.”
The Speaker further explained that the 10th House’s legislative agenda was developed through extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including Ministries, Departments, Agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners. These engagements produced a comprehensive roadmap to guide legislative work from 2023 to 2027.
According to him, the House took deliberate steps to align its legislative priorities with the “Renewed Hope” agenda of the Tinubu-led administration, ensuring synergy between the legislature and the executive.
“Our agenda promotes collaborative governance through constructive engagement with the Executive. This enables us to fulfil our independent mandate while aligning our legislative efforts with national priorities and addressing the critical needs of our citizens,” he added.
The Speaker said that the agenda encompasses eight broad priority areas, including strengthening good governance, enhancing national security, revitalizing the economy, reforming legal frameworks, and advancing social development, noting that “It also champions inclusion through an open Parliament, guides foreign policy in line with national interests, and addresses environmental and climate sustainability.”
He reaffirmed the House’s commitment to maintaining the highest transparency, inclusivity, and accountability standards, adding that, “We will uphold the same spirit of legislative courage that has brought us this far—the courage to enact necessary reforms for our nation’s progress, even when difficult.”
Other keynote speakers at the event also expressed their willingness to partner with the House of Representatives to support robust legislative frameworks that promote inclusivity and good governance.
Signed
Demola Bakare, fsi
Director, Public Enlightenment and Education/Spokesperson for the Commission
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