In a renewed push to bolster Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reinforce fiscal oversight, deepen transparency, and curb abuses in public financial management.
Gatekeepers News reports that the agreement, signed at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja, coincided with the global observance of International Anti-Corruption Day—an alignment both agencies said underscored Nigeria’s commitment to intensifying the fight against corruption.
Welcoming the FRC delegation, ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to strengthening inter-agency cooperation as a core strategy for preventing and combating corruption.
“ICPC must feel like home because of our longstanding relationship,” Dr. Aliyu said.
“Information is power, and working closely with the FRC is essential for promoting accountability in government spending, budgeting, and borrowing. The ICPC stands ready to support this partnership at all times.”
He noted that the collaboration would leverage the FRC’s statutory mandate to monitor fiscal operations in order to strengthen ICPC’s preventive and enforcement capabilities.
FRC Chairman, Victor Muruako, described the MoU as the formalisation of a productive partnership built over the years, adding that its signing on a globally recognised anti-corruption day highlighted its importance.
“While the FRC continues to collaborate with other law enforcement agencies, our relationship with the ICPC requires formalisation through this MoU to improve our collective service delivery,” he said.
Muruako expressed confidence that the expanded partnership would deliver measurable results, stressing the agencies’ shared commitment to safeguarding public resources. He also drew attention to recurring breaches of fiscal laws by some financial institutions and reiterated that all government loans must comply strictly with legal parameters.
Under the new MoU, the ICPC and FRC will scale up information sharing, tighten scrutiny of public revenue and expenditure, and strengthen joint efforts to detect, investigate, and prosecute fiscal-related corruption nationwide.
According to a statement by ICPC spokesperson J. Okor Odey, both agencies expressed optimism that the renewed collaboration would significantly enhance transparency, accountability, and good governance in Nigeria’s public finance system.
