ICPC Backs Full Implementation of ANEEJ Recommendations on ACTUs Assessment
ABUJA, NIGERIA – June 20, 2025 – The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has pledged to implement all the recommendations arising from a recent assessment conducted by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) on the performance of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs) across Nigeria’s Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The assurance was given during a strategic engagement held at the ICPC Headquarters in Abuja, where the ANEEJ delegation led by Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Leo Atakpu, met with the leadership of the ICPC and presented the key findings and recommendations of its report, “Assessment of the Effectiveness of ACTUs in Delivering their Mandate.”
Speaking on behalf of the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, the Director of the Systems Study and Review Department, Mr. Olusegun Adigun, welcomed the report’s findings and assured the ANEEJ team of the Commission’s readiness to act.
“We deeply appreciate the quality and relevance of this report. It offers practical, evidence-based recommendations. I can confirm that ICPC will implement all of them,” Adigun said. He further disclosed plans to write to the Edo State Government to establish ACTUs across MDAs mirroring similar actions taken in states such as Kano and Anambra.
“We will also write to the Edo State Government urging them to establish ACTUs across their MDAs, just as states like Kano and Anambra have already done,” Mr. Adigun stated.
In his remarks, Atakpu stressed that while ACTUs were conceived as internal oversight mechanisms, their impact has been uneven, largely due to poor institutional support. “What this report highlights is not just the gaps but the potential for ACTUs to serve as internal checks against misconduct—if properly resourced and empowered,” he said.
Highlighting ANEEJ’s ongoing role in strengthening anti-corruption structures, Mr. Atakpu noted the importance of institutionalising ACTUs not only at the federal level but also across subnational governments.
“We are prepared to support the capacity building of officials in Edo State and work closely with the government to ensure ACTUs are not only established but fully functional. We will also support the training of 50 ACTUs in MDAs and encourage budgetary provisions for ACTU operations across the board,” Atakpu said.
The ANEEJ Deputy Executive Director stressed that “Civil society’s role is not merely to expose gaps, but to help proffer solution/recommendations in ways that strengthen institutions,” Atakpu added.
The meeting forms part of ANEEJ’s ongoing implementation of the Civil Society Advocacy to Strengthen Anti-Corruption Reforms in Nigeria (CASARN) project, supported under the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) Programme. RoLAC II is implemented by International IDEA with funding from the European Union.
For further information, please contact 09069725955 or info@aneej.org and follow us on twitter, Instagram and facebook: @aneejnigria, @Latakpu, aneej__nigeria and facebook.com/aneejnigeria