N2.8bn Allocation, N33bn Recovery: ICPC Earns Commendation from House Committee

The House of Representatives has called for a comprehensive funding overhaul for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), declaring that the agency deserves increased financial support and official commendation following its impressive performance despite limited resources.

Lawmakers made this position known on Friday during the Commission’s defence of its 2026 budget proposal before the House Committee on Anti-Corruption.
Members of the committee praised the ICPC for recovering N33.16 billion and $1.8 million in cash, alongside numerous assets and convictions, despite receiving only N2.8 billion in the last fiscal year for operations.

Hon. Abdulmaleek Abdulraheem, representing Adavi/Okehi Federal Constituency of Kogi State, described the Commission’s performance as a remarkable return on investment.

“You only got N2.8 billion last year, yet you recovered N33.16 billion and $1.8 million, alongside several convictions,” he said. “There are agencies that are heavily funded but return nothing to the coffers of the Federal Government. As a committee, we must do something for the ICPC.”

He insisted that any deductions made from the Commission’s proposed 2026 budget should be refunded, stressing that if funding cannot be increased beyond the 2025 level, it must not fall below it. He also warned that persistent underfunding could expose the agency to undue pressure and institutional vulnerabilities.

Rt. Hon. Kayode Akiolu also commended the ICPC and its Chairman, describing the Commission as an anti-corruption agency whose methods align with international best practices. He praised the leadership of the Chairman for sustaining strong institutional standards and purposeful law enforcement.
Other lawmakers echoed calls for reforms that would allow the ICPC to retain a percentage of recovered funds to support its operational and administrative needs.

Dr. Aliyu Mustapha Abdullahi, representing Ikara/Kubau Federal Constituency, proposed an arrangement similar to that of agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service and NNPC, which retain portions of internally generated revenues.

“As a committee, we must push for a structure that allows the Commission to retain a certain percentage of its recoveries to enhance efficiency and reduce reliance on unpredictable budgetary allocations,” he said.

Earlier in his presentation, the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, appealed to the National Assembly to facilitate improved funding to enable the Commission effectively discharge its statutory mandate.

He disclosed that in 2025, only N2.1 billion — about 28 percent — of the N7.82 billion approved for overhead costs was released. The shortfall, he said, severely constrained operations.

“Our lawyers and investigators often had to use personal funds to attend court proceedings and conduct investigations due to limited operational vehicles,” he explained. “Several investigations were stalled, and we faced difficulties paying service providers, particularly for rented state offices.”

Capital funding was even more severely affected. Of the N7.3 billion approved for capital projects, only N400.49 million — approximately five percent — was released, and this occurred as late as November 28, 2025.

“With such a late release, we could not fully execute projects as planned or award contracts in strict compliance with procurement procedures,” he added.

Despite these challenges, the Commission recorded significant achievements. It recovered over N33.1 billion in cash and $1.8 million, filed 72 cases, secured 36 convictions, and is currently prosecuting about 400 cases across courts nationwide.

In preventive efforts, the ICPC received 1,107 petitions, assigned 700 for investigation, and concluded 150 inquiries. It also deployed Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecards across 344 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and inaugurated 131 Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs) nationwide.

Dr. Aliyu expressed concern over proposed reductions in the Commission’s 2026 budget, noting that its N25.8 billion proposal had been cut, including reductions of N4.7 billion from overhead costs and N2.2 billion from capital expenditure. He warned that such cuts could significantly undermine operations if not urgently addressed.

The ICPC Chairman, however, assured lawmakers of the Commission’s continued commitment to fiscal discipline and prudent resource management if funding is improved.
It would be recalled that the ICPC management team had earlier appeared before the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption to defend its 2026 budget proposal, where assurances were given that engagement with the Senate Committee on Appropriation would be pursued to enhance funding for the agency.