By Our Correspondent
Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption agencies, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have raised serious concerns over chronic underfunding, warning that it is undermining the country’s fight against corruption.
During a budget defence session before the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, the leadership of both agencies disclosed that insufficient and delayed releases of funds are significantly hampering their operations. According to them, the financial constraints have affected investigations, prosecutions, staff welfare, and the execution of capital projects critical to their mandates.
ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), explained that although personnel costs are largely covered, releases for overhead and capital expenditure have been grossly inadequate. He noted that only a fraction of approved overhead allocations was released, while capital funding was minimal and often delayed.
This, he said, has left the commission struggling to meet basic operational needs such as investigation logistics, forensic analysis, document retrieval, and court-related expenses. In some instances, prosecutors have reportedly had to bear certain costs personally to prevent cases from stalling.
Aliyu further revealed that funding shortages have contributed to prolonged delays in handling cases, with some stretching between two and five years. He added that limited manpower, poor staff welfare, and security risks highlighted by the recent kidnapping of an ICPC officer have also weakened morale within the commission.
Similarly, EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, informed lawmakers that while a portion of the commission’s total budget had been released, funding for capital projects was only partially honoured.
As a result, several contractors and service providers remain unpaid, and some critical projects have either slowed down or stalled completely. He warned that outstanding financial obligations could further strain the commission’s performance in the coming fiscal year.
Olukoyede emphasized that the EFCC’s responsibilities—ranging from high-profile financial crime investigations to asset recovery and international cooperation—require adequate and timely funding. Without this, he cautioned, the effectiveness of Nigeria’s anti-graft framework could be severely compromised.
Members of the Senate Committee acknowledged the concerns raised by both agencies and pledged to review the funding situation.
Some lawmakers observed that Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions receive comparatively lower financial support than similar bodies in other jurisdictions, despite the scale and complexity of corruption-related challenges in the country.
The development has once again brought to the forefront the critical link between institutional capacity and financial support in sustaining Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive.
As the Senate considers the agencies’ budgetary appeals, stakeholders will be watching closely to see whether improved funding will translate into stronger enforcement, faster case resolution, and renewed public confidence in the nation’s war against corruption.
