From Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu, has identified the appointment and election of unqualified individuals to leadership roles in Nigeria’s local government councils as a factor weakening governance and contributing to corruption at the grassroots level.
At a dialogue on local government autonomy in Abuja, Dr. Aliyu noted that administrative inefficiencies in local government often stem from poor leadership selection.
He also cited irregularities in electoral processes as contributing to the problem. “Often, electoral processes are inadequately prepared to deliver free, fair, and credible elections.
These challenges have significantly undermined efficiency and created opportunities for corrupt practices in local administration,” he said.
Aliyu stated that the ICPC had documented instances of financial mismanagement during preparations for local elections, including the diversion of funds.
He added that the ICPC has initiated the Accountability and Corruption Prevention Programme for Local Governments (ACCP-LG) in collaboration with the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity.
The programme focuses on areas such as fiscal transparency, human resources, procurement practices, citizen engagement, and corruption prevention.
Aliyu also referenced the recent Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy, urging stakeholders to comply with the decision and avoid legal actions that could undermine it.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, said the operation of joint state-local government accounts (JAAC) has enabled the diversion of public resources, limiting the independence and effectiveness of local councils.
Rafsanjani emphasized the need for legal, institutional, and electoral reforms to define and enforce political, administrative, and fiscal autonomy for local governments, and to improve budgeting and procurement practices.
He added that enhancing local governance is key to ensuring effective service delivery at the community level.