Nigeria can’t defeat corruption with starved anti-corruption agencies — CSOs tell Tinubu, NASS

By Adejoke Adeleye

A group of civil society organisations have warned President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly that Nigeria’s fight against corruption is being weakened by the chronic underfunding of key anti-corruption institutions.

The CSOs identified as Organisation of People’s Voice (OPV) and the Anti-Corruption Crusade and Good Governance Movement (ACCGGM) said this in a statement on Thursday.

They noted that Nigeria faces a dangerous contradiction in which agencies expected to combat corruption are being deliberately starved of the resources they needed to function effectively.

In the statement issued by Comrade Idris Abu, the Coordinator for Organization of People’s Voice, the groups specifically cited the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as being overstretched, under-resourced, and unable to effectively deliver on its nationwide mandate across 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and 774 local government areas.

According to the organisations, inadequate budgetary allocations, partial release of approved funds, manpower shortages, and obsolete infrastructure have severely weakened investigations, prosecutions, and corruption prevention efforts.

“No serious nation wages war against corruption by starving its anti-corruption institutions,” the statement said, warning that the current approach has led to delayed cases, weak prosecutions, declining public confidence, and emboldened corrupt practices.

The groups also raised concerns about the growing complexity of financial crimes in Nigeria, including procurement fraud, money laundering, digital financial manipulation, and shell company schemes, noting that agencies lack sufficient forensic and cybercrime capacity to respond effectively.

Idris further lamented poor working conditions, low morale, limited welfare support, and inadequate training for anti-corruption personnel, warning that these challenges risk undermining institutional integrity.

Comparing Nigeria with countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Botswana, the organisations argued that successful anti-corruption systems are built on strong political will, adequate funding, modern technology, and sustained public education elements they say are currently lacking in Nigeria’s approach.

The groups therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to immediately prioritise anti-corruption institutions through a series of reforms, including: increased and timely budgetary allocations to anti-corruption agencies, full release of approved funds without delay, massive recruitment and capacity building of investigators and specialists, deployment of modern digital forensics and intelligence technologies, improved staff welfare and career development structures, dedicated funding for corruption prevention and civic education as well as developing a national integrity framework involving government and civil society.

Idris also proposed a Presidential Anti-Corruption Capacity Enhancement Initiative to overhaul infrastructure, staffing, and operational effectiveness.

The organisations warned that Nigeria risks continuing a cycle of anti-corruption rhetoric without investment, describing it as a major threat to governance and national development.

“A nation that spends billions addressing the consequences of corruption but refuses to adequately fund prevention is engaged in self-deception,” the statement added.

The CSOs urged Nigerian government to either strengthen its anti-corruption institutions or risk continued decline in accountability and public trust.