Posted on: Fri 04-04-2025

Over 60% of corruption cases in Nigeria involve funds meant for healthcare and infrastructure. Let that sink in.

It’s a damning statistic, and one that the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu (SAN), did not shy away from during a stakeholders' meeting in Abuja. As he unveiled the Accountability and Corruption Prevention Programme for Local Governments (ACPP-LG), his message was painfully clear: our local councils are bleeding public funds, and it’s the ordinary Nigerians who are left to suffer.

We’re not talking about luxury projects here—we’re talking basic healthcare, decent roads, clean water, and functional schools. The things that determine whether people live or die, progress or remain stuck in poverty. If over half of corruption cases revolve around these sectors, it’s not just a matter of bad governance; it’s a national emergency.

The Grassroots Are Failing—And It’s Not for Lack of Resources

Nigeria’s 774 local governments are supposed to be the heartbeat of development. They are the closest tier of government to the people. They should be delivering social services, fixing health centers, and maintaining roads. But what we have instead is a culture of impunity where public servants treat community development funds like personal ATMs.

Aliyu’s remarks underscore something many Nigerians already suspect: the system is broken at the grassroots. Funds are being diverted while health centers remain unequipped, maternity clinics shut down, and rural roads disintegrate into ditches. The result? Poor maternal outcomes, disease outbreaks, and communities cut off from economic opportunities.

Financial Autonomy Without Accountability Is a Recipe for Disaster

Aliyu also referenced the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment affirming financial autonomy for local governments—a landmark ruling with potential to transform service delivery. But here’s the catch: autonomy without real transparency and strict oversight only gives looters more room to maneuver.

That’s why the ACPP-LG, if sincerely implemented, could be a game-changer. Its goals—enhancing transparency, proactive disclosure, citizen engagement, and leveraging technology—are not just buzzwords; they are essential lifelines in a system plagued by opacity.

The Real Test? Political Will and Follow-Through

We’ve heard similar promises before. Anti-corruption drives are announced, programs are launched, but what follows is often underwhelming. The true test of the ICPC’s initiative will not be in the speeches but in the prosecutions, the audits, and the visible changes in public service delivery.

Aliyu’s strong words—that offenders will face the full weight of the law—must not be an empty threat. Nigerians need to see examples made of those who divert funds meant for vaccines, clinics, and school renovations. We need to feel that stealing from the public purse is no longer worth the risk.

A Call to Action: This Fight Belongs to All of Us

It’s tempting to see this as just the ICPC’s job, but this fight requires all hands on deck—civil society, the media, the judiciary, and everyday citizens. Whistleblower protection must be strengthened. Community leaders must stop shielding corrupt officials. And we, the public, must keep asking: Where is the money going?

Because when public money meant for healthcare is stolen, the result isn't just statistics—it’s avoidable deaths, shattered futures, and lost hope.

Aliyu is right about one thing: the fight against grassroots corruption is the fight for Nigeria’s future. The question is—are we finally ready to win it?

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