The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, has revealed that the Commission saved the federal government over N10 billion in 2024 and recovered more than N50 billion between 2019 and 2023.
Dr. Aliyu made this disclosure while delivering the keynote address at the International Center for Investigative Reporting (ICIR)’s Open Contract Reporting Project (OCRP) close-out and journalism awards ceremony held in Abuja on Tuesday.
He noted that the ICPC has tracked over 1,500 projects nationwide
“When we asked MDAs to bring out their procurement plan, the ICPC found out that most of the MDAs executing projects do not have the mandate to do so. When we look at what is happening in the public sector, it is very sad because many people are out to divert public funds. We have had a case where somebody spent N7 million on a project that couldn’t have cost more than N100,000. He went on to say I have taken it, and what can you do about it? Let’s go to court. It is as bad as that”.
Aliyu stressed the need to strengthen oversight mechanisms in order to rigorously enforce the procurement law, “Because when you look at it, most of the procurements process, they don’t strictly comply with them because there is laxity in the oversight mechanism.”
He also called for the empowerment of the citizens to enable the people know what is happening so that they can report to the appropriate agencies when they notice these lapses while harping on the need to have collaboration across all agencies.
“And also, we need to promote ethical leadership and lead with example in public service. One thing which I believe in is that if the head of an organization, ministry or agency is straightforward, those down will follow. But if those working under you as a team executive know that you are not straightforward, when you give them one yard, they will take ten miles.”
“Once we are transparent and straightforward as team executives, those under you will follow. But once the executive is not straightforward, then you have a problem and being straightforward has its own consequences. Because when you are straightforward, there are certain things that maybe you may not know, but at least they will be careful with what they do”.
The ICPC c applauded the ICIR for its Open Contract Reporting Project saying it has been very remarkful and has helped the Commission look into some projects they may not have been aware of.
“The OCRP is really something which is good and remarkable. You have really helped the public institutions in reporting some of the challenges that are happening within the public sector. And procurement fraud is a challenge which all of us must come together and see how can we tackle it. Once we reduce procurement fraud, we have a lot of resources to use in development of the country.
The Deputy African Director of the MacArthur Foundation, Dr Amina Salihu applauded the journalists for their resillence stressing the need for everyone to pay attention and care about what is happening in the country.
“We owe that to the upcoming generation, to ourselves, and to our own dignity. We cannot give up. Let us continue to do the things that we know how to do best. Let us ask, fight, engage, demand, be there, and be accountable ourselves. Because if we are not accountable, we can’t demand accountability.”
She applauded the ICIR for successfully carrying out the OCR project which had 300 journalists trained and 500 quality reports published describing it as a stellar achievement you have.
“We salute you for the work that you do. We look forward to what the future holds, and how those potentials become possible.”
The Executive Director of the ICIR, Dayo Aiyetan, said that the Open Contract Reporting Project (OCRP} began seven years ago to hold government and organizations accountable, especially regarding procurement.
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He said that the project had trained 300 journalists across Nigeria on open contract reporting and had recorded over 500 quality investigative reports from journalists across the country.
“Seven years after, we have wonderful stories. We have gotten several journalists interested in Investigative journalism. I can say that most journalists would not have done critical investigative reporting if not for this project. It has been impactful.”
He appreciated the MacArthur Foundation for their support in supporting the project and ensuring that journalists get the report they need to carry out critical investigative reporting while also applauding the anti-corruption agencies and CSOs for their collaboration on the project.
During the close out ceremony, six journalists were awarded for their examplary reports. They include Archibong Jeremiah Oganga from The Investigator, Hafsat Bello Mohammed from Premier Radio, Ekemini Simon from The Mail, Gideon Arinze from Ripples, Justina Asishana from The Nation and Hadiza Musa from Primetime News.