The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recovered more than ₦5.3 billion after reviewing local government accounts in seven states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The commission has also announced plans to make financial records from all 774 local government areas available online as part of efforts to improve transparency and accountability in public administration.
ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed the recovery on Thursday, November 12, in Lafia, Nasarawa State. He spoke during the launch of the ICPC-National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Local Government Websites Pilot Initiative.
According to Aliyu, the commission’s review of local government accounts exposed financial risks that require closer monitoring. He explained that the recovery demonstrated the importance of examining how councils manage public resources.
The chairman also described the proposed digital platform as a preventive measure against corruption. He said making financial information publicly accessible would allow Nigerians to follow government spending and question questionable transactions.
ICPC Recovers ₦5.3bn as NITDA Targets 774 Councils
The digital transparency programme began in Nasarawa State, which will serve as the pilot location before the proposed nationwide expansion.
Under the arrangement, local government councils will publish important financial and administrative information on dedicated websites. These records will include annual budgets, statutory allocations, internally generated revenue, expenditure and audit reports.
The platforms will also provide details about council debts, procurement activities and human resource management. In addition, residents will have access to channels for submitting complaints, engaging council officials and reporting suspected wrongdoing.
Aliyu explained that regular disclosure would give citizens a clearer picture of how their councils use public funds. It would also help journalists investigate government spending and enable oversight institutions to identify possible financial irregularities.
However, the initiative will require councils to maintain accurate and regularly updated records. The ICPC chairman therefore urged local government chairmen to appoint dedicated officers to manage the websites and verify information before publication.
NITDA will provide the technological infrastructure needed to establish the platforms. Its responsibilities will include domain registration, website development and hosting for at least one year.
The agency will also develop standard website templates and provide technical training to support implementation. Meanwhile, the ICPC will establish the content standards and accountability framework that will guide the information councils must disclose.
NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the initiative would improve governance, encourage citizen participation and create economic opportunities. He also noted that digital platforms could reduce the difficulties residents face when seeking information about local government projects or submitting complaints.
Local Government Financial Autonomy Raises Accountability Questions
The initiative comes amid increased attention to local government finances following the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment on financial autonomy.
The ruling affirmed the financial independence of local government councils and directed that their statutory allocations should go directly to them rather than through state-controlled joint accounts.
The development placed greater responsibility on councils to explain how they manage public resources. It also increased public interest in whether local administrations use their allocations to provide essential services and execute development projects.
Aliyu said financial autonomy must go hand in hand with accountability. He maintained that councils should manage their resources openly and ensure that public funds benefit residents.
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, officially flagged off the pilot programme and designated the Nasarawa State Information Technology and Digital Economy Agency as the state’s technical partner.
He also directed local government councils to appoint officers who would verify financial information before uploading it. Furthermore, he stressed that the success of the programme would depend on the accuracy, accessibility and usefulness of the published records.
Sule urged the ICPC and NITDA to consider extending similar transparency measures to state governments. He also suggested that public disclosure could help residents establish whether funds meant for local councils had reached their intended destinations.
The Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Danladi Jatau, pledged the legislature’s support for the initiative. He noted that the Constitution empowers state assemblies to exercise oversight over local government finances.
The proposed expansion will cover all 774 local government areas, although its effectiveness will depend on consistent implementation and public access to reliable information.
If councils maintain the platforms and publish complete financial records, residents will have more opportunities to monitor allocations, expenditure and development projects. The initiative could therefore strengthen grassroots accountability and improve public scrutiny of local government administration across Nigeria.
