Supreme Court, NAHCON, 13 Others Fail ICPC Integrity Assessment

The Supreme Court of Nigeria, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), and 13 other agencies have failed to meet the standards of the 2024 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS) issued by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). This scorecard evaluates the adherence of public institutions to ethical and anti-corruption standards.

The announcement was made by ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, who was represented by Demola Bakare, the agency’s Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, during the unveiling of the EICS in Abuja. The chairman revealed that 330 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) were assessed in 2024, but none achieved full compliance with the scorecard’s requirements.

Fifteen agencies were flagged as completely non-compliant, having failed to conduct system studies or submit necessary financial and audit reports. Among these were the University of Ibadan (UI), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Legal Aid Council, Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), and the National Obstetrics Fistula Centre, Ningi. Other agencies included the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists and the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria.

The ICPC chairman emphasized that enforcement measures would be taken against the defaulting agencies to ensure compliance with government directives.

Despite the failures, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) stood out as the top performer, scoring 89.75%. The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) and Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) followed with scores of 89.33% and 88.73%, respectively.

The scorecard assessed MDAs on key performance indicators such as Management Culture and Structure (MCS), Governance and Executive Management, Financial Management Systems (FMS), and Administrative Systems (AS). These indicators examined policies, ethics education, whistle-blowing mechanisms, and audit processes.

Dr. Aliyu noted that the EICS serves as a preventive tool, helping MDAs identify gaps, improve compliance, and foster self-evaluation. Between December 2023 and December 2024, the ICPC tracked 1,500 projects across 22 states, valued at ₦610 billion. During this period, the commission recovered ₦346 million in cash, assets worth ₦400 million, and helped the government save ₦30 billion.

The ICPC reported that 29.55% of MDAs achieved substantial compliance, 51.62% partial compliance, 15.91% poor compliance, and 2.92% were non-compliant. Major gaps identified included the lack of whistle-blower policies, strategic plans, and stock verification systems.

In a related development, Jimoh Sulaiman, Head of the Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI), highlighted the impact of project tracking efforts. He noted improved project completion rates and greater public interest in constituency projects, with citizens increasingly demanding accountability from officials.

The ICPC reaffirmed its commitment to promoting integrity and accountability across MDAs while recognizing high-performing agencies to encourage ethical compliance in governance.