The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at tightening oversight of public finances and boosting the country’s anti-corruption efforts.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja as Nigeria joined the global community to mark the 2025 International Anti-Corruption Day.
Officials from both agencies described the event as a significant step in reinforcing transparency, accountability, and fiscal discipline across government institutions.
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Musa Adamu Aliyu, ICPC Chairman, said the collaboration was a continuation of a long-standing relationship between the two agencies.
He stressed that improved information exchange and tighter scrutiny of government spending were central to tackling corruption effectively.
“ICPC must feel like home because of our longstanding relationship. Information is power, and working closely with the FRC is essential for promoting accountability in government spending, budgeting, and borrowing. The ICPC stands ready to support this partnership at all times”, he said.
Aliyu explained that the partnership would tap into the FRC’s expertise in monitoring fiscal operations to bolster the ICPC’s preventive and enforcement functions.
Victor Muruako, FRC Chairman, described the MoU as a formal consolidation of the agencies’ already productive engagement.
He commended the ICPC for sustaining collaboration with partner bodies and noted the symbolism of signing the agreement on a day dedicated to global anti-corruption advocacy.
“While the FRC continues to collaborate with other law enforcement agencies, our relationship with the ICPC requires formalisation through this MoU to improve our collective service delivery,” he said.
Muruako expressed confidence that the expanded partnership would yield tangible benefits, adding that both agencies share a commitment to protecting public resources.
He also highlighted the FRC’s statutory powers to monitor borrowing and expenditure across government institutions and raised concerns about reported infractions by financial institutions.
He stressed that all borrowing must comply strictly with the law to prevent fiscal abuse.
According to a statement by Okor Odey, spokesperson for the ICPC on Wednesday, the MoU seeks to strengthen information-sharing mechanisms, enhance the oversight of government revenue and expenditure, and improve the detection, investigation, and prosecution of fiscal-related corruption cases.
Officials from both agencies said the renewed collaboration would deliver substantial gains in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance, reinforcing Nigeria’s broader reforms in public financial management.
