ICPC Seeks Strengthened Media Partnership to Consolidate Anti-Corruption Progress
By Chizoba Njaka
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has emphasized the need for a strengthened partnership with the media to sustain progress in the fight against corruption.
The Commission's Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, made the appeal during a joint workshop organized by the ICPC and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Abuja.
Dr. Aliyu highlighted the media's critical role in the anti-corruption framework, describing journalists as watchdogs, agenda-setters, and catalysts for institutional reform. He noted that the Commission had recorded significant anti-corruption wins, including the recovery of over N37.44 billion and $2.35 million in 2025.
The workshop, themed "Reinvigorating the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2022-2026): A Post-Assessment Roadmap for the Fourth Estate," aimed to deepen collaboration and reinforce the media's role in anti-corruption governance.
Dr. Aliyu pointed to the Commission's Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI) as a key intervention tool, which had monitored approximately 950 projects across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with a combined value of around N415.25 billion.
Keynote speaker Professor Umaru Pate underscored the media's indispensable role in reinforcing Nigeria's anti-corruption architecture, characterizing corruption as an economic, governance, and moral challenge. He identified key impediments to the effective implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, including weak inter-agency coordination and low public awareness.
The workshop proposed a roadmap for journalists, urging them to uphold ethical standards, promote civic education, and advocate for the protection and safety of journalists.