The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has convened its pivotal 2026 Management and Board Retreat in Niger State. The two-day forum, focused on reinforcing institutional efficacy and strengthening public confidence in the nation’s anti-corruption fight, was formally opened by the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN.
Held at the Royal Institute for Training and Human Capital Development Limited, Zuma Rock Resort, the retreat was themed “Enhancing Institutional Effectiveness: Leadership, Performance and Public Trust.” It brought together a distinguished assembly of ICPC leadership, including Honourable Board Members, the Secretary to the Commission, all Departmental and Unit Heads, and every Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner from state offices.
The event also attracted key institutional partners, such as Hon. Justice Chidiebere N. Uwa (JSC) of the Supreme Court of Nigeria; Dr. Roger Koranteng, Adviser and Head of the Public Sector Governance and Peace Directorate at the Commonwealth Secretariat, London; and representatives from the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption programme (RoLAC/ International IDEA and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).
In his opening address, Chairman Dr. Aliyu framed the retreat as a critical juncture for reflection, recalibration, and a renewed commitment to the Commission’s public mandate. He stressed that the ICPC would henceforth be judged not on effort alone, but on tangible results: investigations leading to convictions, preventive measures that decisively close systemic loopholes, and public education that catalyses genuine behavioural change.
“The eyes of the nation are upon us. Corruption remains the single most grave obstacle to Nigeria’s development, and the ICPC is the shield upon which the hopes of many rest,” Dr. Aliyu stated. He urged a transformation of the Commission from a functional institution into a formidable force, built upon boldness and a challenge to the status quo.
The Chairman outlined expected outcomes, including the signing of a ‘Zuma Declaration’ committing management to specific 2026 performance benchmarks, a revised monitoring and evaluation framework, enhanced inter-departmental collaboration, and a clear digital transformation roadmap.
Goodwill messages reinforced the collective mission. Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, commended the ICPC’s courage, while Dr. Emmanuel Uche of RoLAC/International IDEA highlighted the retreat’s timeliness in reassessing strategies against corruption’s evolving complexity.
The keynote presentation was delivered by Dr. Roger Koranteng on “Positioning African Anti-Corruption Agencies for Global Effectiveness: The Way Forward for ICPC.” He underscored that corruption cannot be defeated in isolation, thriving in silence but diminishing under sustained, courageous, and collective action.
In a session titled “Institutional Integrity in Anti-Corruption Agencies: Lessons from the Bench,” Hon. Justice Chidiebere N. Uwa (JSC) emphasised that integrity is built daily upon an unwavering foundation of fairness, accountability, and transparency, secured through strict adherence to due process. A further presentation was given by Dr. Umar Yakubu, Director of the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity.
The 2026 retreat concluded with a resolve to translate dialogue into decisive action, aiming to fortify the ICPC’s internal mechanisms and significantly deepen its impact within Nigeria’s anti-corruption landscape.