ICPC, Ondo Partner to Strengthen Local Government Accountability

ICPC, Ondo Partner to Strengthen Local Government Accountability

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has partnered with the Ondo State Government to strengthen grassroots governance through a three-day capacity-building workshop aimed at improving fiscal discipline and boosting Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) across the state’s 18 local government areas.

The initiative, which brought together 226 participants, including local government chairmen, vice chairmen, heads of departments and senior administrative officers, is designed to equip council officials with practical knowledge in public financial management.

In a statement signed on Saturday by ICPC spokesperson, Okor Odey, the Commission said the workshop forms part of its Accountability and Corruption Prevention Programme for Local Governments (ACPP-LG), an initiative targeted at reinforcing transparency and internal control systems at the grassroots level.

Speaking on behalf of the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, the Commission’s Head of Constituency Project Tracking and Local Government Initiative, Bello Idris Bakori, described the programme as a strategic intervention to entrench ethical governance in local councils.

“This workshop is not just an academic exercise,” Bakori said. “It marks the commencement of a transformative process aimed at converting knowledge into tangible reforms and embedding sustainable governance practices.”

According to him, the ACPP-LG is structured to provide local councils with practical tools to strengthen internal controls, improve transparency and integrate ethical standards into daily administrative processes.

The workshop was declared open by the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro.

The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to probity and accountability, stressing that transparency, fiscal discipline and professionalism are non-negotiable in the management of public resources at the local level.

Participants were engaged in intensive technical sessions on best practices in financial reporting, strengthening internal audit and control mechanisms, and effective asset management to enhance accountability and service delivery.

Other areas covered during the programme include procurement controls, fraud risk assessment, tax reforms for revenue optimisation, strategic budgeting and ethical standards in public service. The workshop will also feature a session on the legal provisions of the ICPC Act, 2000.

At the end of the programme, participants are expected to receive certificates, marking what the Commission described as the beginning of a renewed commitment to accountable and transparent governance at the grassroots.