The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has pledged to enforce the Supreme Court’s judgement granting full autonomy to local governments.

The commission also warned against any attempt to undermine the ruling through diversionary legal actions.

Chairman of the Commission, Dr Musa Aliyu, gave the assurance while speaking at a high-level national dialogue on Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria, jointly organised by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Nigeria and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in Abuja.

Aliyu raised concerns over the misappropriation of public funds often disguised as preparations for local government elections, noting that it is a pervasive challenge that threatens grassroots development.

While welcoming the Supreme Court’s decision affirming local government autonomy, Aliyu described it as a critical milestone for strengthening governance at the third tier.

He, however, emphasised that the ruling must be accompanied by practical reforms to curb corruption and enhance service delivery.

To this end, the ICPC chairman announced the launch of the Accountability and Corruption Prevention Programme for Local Governments (ACPP-LG), a joint initiative between ICPC and the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity.

The programme targets reforms in five thematic areas: fiscal transparency, human resource management, open procurement, citizen engagement, and corruption control.

Aliyu warned legal practitioners and political actors against using frivolous litigation to derail the Supreme Court’s decision, adding that such a decision could weaken the nation’s legal system.

While lamenting how some lower courts still entertain suits that contradict established Supreme Court rulings, he cited the case of Attorney General of Ondo State v Attorney General of the Federation.

“The ICPC is determined to enforce the Supreme Court decision using the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, alongside other relevant laws and regulations,” he said.

Quoting Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Aliyu reminded all persons and authorities of their constitutional duty to enforce Supreme Court decisions, adding that judicial precedent must not be undermined.

In his remarks, Executive Director, CISLAC, Auwal Rafsanjani, called for urgent and holistic reforms to Nigeria’s local government system.

He argues that financial autonomy alone is insufficient to deliver effective grassroots governance.

He said that the organisation is committed to advancing evidence-based advocacy, public enlightenment, and legislative reforms to restore integrity and effectiveness to local governance.

Rafsanjani said, “The quest for an autonomous, functional, and corruption-free local government system in Nigeria is not just a constitutional matter; it is a developmental imperative.

“Since the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999, the idea of granting local governments full autonomy has remained both a promise and a challenge. While financial autonomy has received significant judicial affirmation, including the recent Supreme Court judgment, it remains only one piece of a larger, more complex puzzle.

“The reality today is that financial autonomy alone has not translated into effective governance or independence at the local level. The root problem is far more systemic, involving deep-seated political interference, weak institutional structures, poor accountability mechanisms, and pervasive corruption.”

In his remarks, a lecturer from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Adetunji Ogunyemi, stated that the Supreme Court’s 2024 decision had altered the trajectory of local governance in Nigeria.

He called on Nigerians to activate the office of the citizen by holding elected local officials accountable and demanding value for money at the grassroots.

He said, “The time has come for all Nigerians to actively engage the office of the citizen, to ensure that local authorities are held accountable, closely monitored, and effectively overseen to guarantee value for public resources at the grassroots level.”