ICPC Chairman Emphasizes Media Partnerships Against Corruption

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In a significant gathering of media executives at the Marriott Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu SAN, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), delivered a powerful speech emphasizing the vital partnership between the ICPC and the media in combating corruption in Nigeria.

Dr. Aliyu acknowledged the media’s crucial role in exposing corrupt practices and enhancing transparency in society. He highlighted the ICPC’s commitment to maintaining integrity and the protection of whistleblowers, while also sharing impressive statistics from the Commission’s community engagement initiatives in 2024. Notably, over 1.4 million individuals were reached through sensitization exercises, alongside the issuance of numerous press releases that generated substantial media coverage.

The Chairman reiterated the ICPC’s strategic communication approach, rooted in the laws that protect the rights of suspects, and outlined various programs aimed at promoting accountability in government-funded projects and tackling corruption linked to abuse of power. He emphasized the importance of collaboration with Civil Society Organizations and the commission’s international strides in accountability.

Dr. Aliyu concluded his remarks by reaffirming the media’s critical role in shaping public perception and the collective fight against corruption, urging media executives to continue their commitment to amplifying the ICPC’s successes.

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Full Speech

REMARKS BY DR. MUSA ADAMU ALIYU SAN, CHAIRMAN, INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICES AND OTHER RELATED OFFENCES COMMISSION (ICPC) AT THE BREAKFAST MEETING WITH MEDIA EXECUTIVES (SECOND EDITION)

The Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos

Thursday, 27th February 2025

Treasured media friends, ladies and gentlemen, good morning!

2. Permit me to be categorical in stating the obvious: the ICPC cherishes and greatly values its partnership with you all. Your dedication to exposing corruption and enhancing our efforts has been crucial in fostering a more transparent society. The decision to put this event together is part of our determination to strengthen our partnership with you all. This breakfast meeting is not merely an event but a reaffirmation of our shared mission to combat corruption and uphold integrity in Nigeria.

3. Your support for the ICPC in delivering its statutory mandates, including its robust activities and initiatives in fighting corrupt practices and other related offences in Nigeria, is indeed commendable.

4. I am personally filled with gratitude that the media has continued to positively boost the ICPC’s anti-corruption public communications efforts. Your investigative reports, analyses, and unwavering dedication to the truth have helped expose corrupt practices.

5. As we salute your commitment to the crusade against corruption, ICPC under my leadership is poised to ensure the sustenance and heightening of our collaborations with you. The media is not merely an observer; you are a frontline partner in this fight.

6. Over the years, ICPC has adopted a strategic communication approach in line with Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 27(4) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. These laws ensure the protection of suspects’ rights. While remaining strict, diligent, and stern in our actions, ICPC will remain resolute in propagating the rule of law and protecting human dignity.

7. Additionally, the ICPC prioritises the protection of whistleblowers and the integrity of investigations. Transparency is a cornerstone of our work, and we will continue to provide verified information through official channels, including press releases, newsletters, and our digital platforms.

8. A quick review of the Commission’s community engagement in the year 2024 indicates the following:
1,458,025 individuals were physically reached through 579 sensitisation exercises conducted under its community engagement programmes.
188 press releases were issued, resulting in 1,860 news reports published in the media.
The Commission experienced increased followership and impressions on its social media handles (Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube). 181,958 visits were recorded on our website, while 158 television productions were aired in 2024.
Episodes of our podcast, Ethicspod, were successfully released on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and across all our social media platforms.

9. As we move forward, we are guided by the extant laws, Strategic Action Plan 2024-2028 and National Anti-Corruption Strategy. ICPC has laudable programs on:
Constituency & Executive Projects Tracking – Ensuring accountability in government-funded projects, with 1,500 projects tracked, totaling N610B in value.
Ethics & Integrity Compliance Scorecards – Measuring institutions’ adherence to ethical standards.
Sexual Harassment Prevention Programme – Tackling corruption linked to abuse of power.
Anti-Corruption & Transparency Units (ACTUs) – Strengthening institutional integrity.
National Ethics & Integrity Policy/Behaviour Change Initiative.
The “CARE” policy thrust.

10. The Corruption Prevention Programme for Local Governments, which will be unveiled soon, aims to enhance financial transparency at the grassroots level in accordance with the Supreme Court’s decision on local government autonomy.

11. We have continued to strengthen our partnership with credible Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in implementing our activities and initiatives, particularly the Corruption Prevention Programme for Local Governments, which aims to ensure proactive disclosure of information relevant to finances, procurement, and corruption prevention mechanisms.

12. In my one year in office, the Commission has made significant continental and international strides. In September 2024, I had the privilege of leading the ICPC delegation to the Fifth Plenary of the GlobE Network in Beijing, China, where Nigeria secured a seat on the Steering Committee. Additionally, in November, I was honoured to be elected as the interim Chair of the African Assets Recovery Practitioners Forum in Arusha, Tanzania—another milestone in our relentless pursuit of accountability beyond our borders.

13. Dear friends, corruption thrives in silence, but your voices can shatter that silence. Your role in shaping public perception and holding institutions accountable cannot be overstated. The more Nigerians see, read, and hear about the fight against corruption, the stronger our collective resolve becomes. Our mission to diminish corrupt practices through our public mobilisation, our doggedness, and our law-abiding operational strategies remains strong and unwavering. We look forward to deepening our existing relationship as you support us with positive media amplifications of our successes.

14. Permit me to end this remark by emphasising that you mean a whole lot to us and that we count on you as dependable allies in ensuring that Nigerians read, watch, and hear about the great strides the ICPC is recording.

Thank you all!

Please, enjoy the breakfast.