Approaches to Anti-Corruption in Nigeria: Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Focus

Abstract

This study examines the approaches to combating corruption in Nigeria through a critical evaluation of the initiatives and performance of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Anchored in Institutional Theory, the research examines how formal regulations, organisational structures, and enforcement practices interact with informal norms to shape anti-corruption outcomes within Nigeria’s governance system. The study employs a qualitative research design, drawing on in-depth semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, including ICPC officials, policymakers, and civil society actors in Abuja. These primary data are complemented by documentary analysis of ICPC reports and relevant policy documents, thereby enhancing contextual rigor and analytical depth. The findings reveal that the ICPC has implemented a range of preventive and enforcement strategies, such as system audits, public sensitisation campaigns, asset monitoring, and policy advisory roles, which have contributed to modest improvements in transparency and administrative accountability. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives is significantly constrained by entrenched structural and institutional challenges, including limited operational autonomy, inadequate funding, political interference, weak inter-agency collaboration, and institutional capacity gaps. The study further finds that compliance with anti-corruption measures is largely driven by coercive enforcement rather than deeply internalised normative values, raising concerns about the sustainability of such efforts. Moreover, the analysis uncovers a persistent gap between policy formulation and implementation, largely influenced by informal governance practices such as patronage networks and elite influence, which undermine consistent enforcement and weaken reform outcomes. These dynamics highlight the complexity of institutional behaviour within Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework. The study concludes that although the ICPC has recorded incremental progress in advancing anti-corruption initiatives, its impact remains insufficient to achieve transformative change. It argues that strengthening institutional frameworks must be complemented by genuine political commitment and a shift toward value-driven accountability. Accordingly, the study recommends reinforcing institutional independence through legal safeguards, improving resource allocation, enhancing inter-agency coordination, and promoting sustained public engagement to foster a culture of accountability. Ultimately, effective anti-corruption outcomes in Nigeria depend on the interplay between institutional capacities, political will, and entrenched societal norms.