The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Tuesday disclosed significant gaps in ethical compliance and internal controls across Nigeria’s Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Presenting the 2025 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS) alongside the ACTU Effectiveness Index (AEI), ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, at a press briefing in Abuja, revealed that no MDA achieved full compliance.
Out of 344 MDAs assessed, 13.95 per cent demonstrated substantial compliance, 38.37 per cent showed partial compliance, 141 MDAs 40.99 per cent recorded poor compliance, 23 MDAs 6.69 per cent were non-compliant, and 13 MDAs 3.64 per cent were classified as high-risk due to non-responsiveness.
The reports exposed major governance deficiencies, with 169 MDAs lacking core values, mission, or vision systems, and 191 lacking policies on gifts, donations, or hospitality.
According to the report, operational weaknesses were also evident, with 102 MDAs having no strategic plans, while 154 did not conduct monitoring and evaluation of their activities.
The report further revealed that financial and procurement lapses were widespread. 114 MDAs failed to submit annual financial reports, 96 did not submit audited accounts within statutory deadlines, and 88 neglected annual procurement assessments.
The AEI further highlighted internal control weaknesses, with over 52 per cent of ACTUs rated ineffective and nearly 25 per cent of MDAs having no established ACTU, reflecting breaches of the National Anti-Corruption framework.
Other gaps included inadequate training for procurement officers, weak whistleblower frameworks, incomplete codes of conduct, lack of reward systems for ethical behaviour, and insufficient digitisation of operational records.
Dr. Aliyu warned that these deficiencies undermine transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the public sector.
He noted that MDAs failing to enforce internal controls remain highly susceptible to financial mismanagement, project failures, and systemic corruption. While some improvements in financial management were observed, the findings underscore persistent challenges in governance, leadership commitment, and consistent application of ethics and compliance mechanisms.
He added that the ICPC will implement targeted corrective measures, including system reviews, risk assessments, and enforcement actions, to strengthen accountability and transparency across the public service.
“The 2025 EICS and AEI results provide both a benchmark of progress and a clear indication of areas requiring urgent attention,” Dr. Aliyu said.
“Ensuring ethical conduct and compliance is essential for effective governance and sustainable national development.”
