The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has issued a stern warning that the Commission will take decisive action against any official or individual who defies the recent Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy.
On July 11, 2024, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment affirming the financial autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Councils. The seven-member panel, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, unanimously upheld a federal government suit aimed at reinforcing the independence of local governments across the nation. The court also dismissed efforts by state governments to dissolve democratically elected local government councils.
Speaking at the 6th Annual General Assembly of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA), Dr. Aliyu emphasized the ICPC’s commitment to holding key stakeholders accountable, free from external interference. “We are focused on ensuring that critical stakeholders in this country are held accountable and working to reduce corruption. Next month, in September, we will hold a summit with these stakeholders to discuss collaborative efforts,” he stated.
He further declared, “Local governments must be politically independent, and any state-level official who violates this Supreme Court decision will be held accountable for gross misconduct and abuse of office. The ICPC is prepared to take action against anyone who goes against the Supreme Court’s decision on local government autonomy.”
During the event, Dr. Aliyu also underscored the transnational nature of corruption, highlighting the need for collective action among nations, and expressed confidence in the guiding principles of NACIWA in tackling corruption across member states.
