RismadarVoice Reporters
November 12, 2026
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced the recovery of more than ₦5.3 billion following an examination of local government accounts in seven states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The commission also unveiled plans to establish digital transparency platforms for Nigeria’s 774 local government councils, enabling citizens to monitor public allocations, expenditure and development projects.
ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed this on Thursday during the launch of the ICPC-National Information Technology Development Agency Local Government Websites Pilot in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
According to Aliyu, the recovery highlights the importance of strengthening financial oversight and preventing the mismanagement of public resources at the grassroots.
He explained that the initiative followed the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment affirming financial autonomy for democratically elected local government councils.
The ICPC chairman stressed that greater financial independence must be accompanied by transparency, accountability and responsible management of public funds.
Under the initiative, local government councils will be expected to publish information covering budgets, statutory allocations, internally generated revenue, expenditure, procurement, audit reports and outstanding debts.
The platforms will also provide opportunities for citizens to submit complaints, monitor projects and report suspected financial irregularities.
Aliyu urged council chairmen to appoint dedicated personnel to manage the websites and ensure that published information remains accurate and regularly updated.
Speaking at the event, NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the agency would provide technical standards, website templates and training to support implementation.
He disclosed plans to register domain names, develop and host websites for all 774 councils for at least one year.
Abdullahi explained that the initiative was intended to improve governance, encourage citizen participation and create opportunities for local technology professionals.
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, welcomed the programme and designated the state’s Information Technology and Digital Economy Agency as its technical implementation partner.
Sule directed local government officials to ensure that financial information published on the platforms was accurate and regularly verified.
He also urged the ICPC and NITDA to extend similar transparency measures to state governments, offering Nasarawa as a pilot for broader disclosure.
The initiative forms part of the ICPC’s Accountability and Corruption Prevention Programme for Local Governments.
Although the commission announced the recovery of more than ₦5.3 billion, it did not provide a detailed breakdown identifying the affected councils or amounts recovered from individual accounts.
The nationwide website programme remains at the pilot stage, with implementation across other councils expected to follow.
