ICPC Unveils Initiative to Tackle Corruption in LGAs
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced plans to launch a new initiative aimed at tackling corruption in local government areas (LGAs) across the country. The program, known as the Accountability and Corruption Prevention Programme for Local Governments (ACPP-LG), is designed to improve financial management, transparency, and the proactive disclosure of information at the local government level.
In a statement released on Wednesday, ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare highlighted that the Commission has long been involved in educating and engaging grassroots communities through various local government-focused programs. He noted that these initiatives have not only raised awareness but have also empowered citizens to identify and report corrupt practices.
The ACPP-LG initiative, according to Bakare, is an extension of the ICPC’s ongoing efforts to promote integrity, accountability, and transparency in local governance. It will feature a stakeholders’ meeting that will serve as a platform for key discussions about the challenges undermining local governance. The meeting will introduce the ACPP-LG as a strategic tool for preventing corruption at the local government level.
The key objectives of the program include eliminating financial leakages, curbing corrupt practices, ensuring compliance with governance standards, and promoting efficient, corruption-free service delivery at the grassroots level.
A major goal of the ACPP-LG is to restore public trust in local governments by strengthening accountability mechanisms. This initiative comes at a time when local governments have recently gained financial autonomy, following a Supreme Court ruling last year affirming their financial independence.
The ICPC’s efforts are expected to encourage greater involvement from local governance leaders and stakeholders in tackling corruption and ensuring that local governments deliver on their promises to citizens in an accountable and transparent manner.
