The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has published a damning report on the state of ethical governance within Nigeria's federal bureaucracy. The 2025 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS), presented on Tuesday, 23rd December 2025, exposes significant and widespread failures in internal controls and ethical compliance across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Alarming Compliance Ratings Across 344 MDAs
During a press briefing in Abuja, ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, disclosed the sobering findings. The assessment covered 344 federal MDAs, and the results were stark. Not a single MDA achieved a rating of full compliance with established ethical standards and internal control mechanisms.
The breakdown of the performance is a cause for national concern. Only 13.95% of the assessed bodies demonstrated substantial compliance. A larger group, 38.37%, managed only partial compliance. However, the most troubling figures show that 141 MDAs, representing 40.99%, were rated as having poor compliance. Furthermore, 23 agencies (6.69%) were deemed non-compliant, and 13 MDAs (3.64%) were classified as high-risk due to their complete non-responsiveness to the assessment process.
Deep-Rooted Governance and Operational Deficiencies
The report laid bare fundamental flaws in the administrative framework of many government bodies. It found that 169 MDAs operate without defined core values, mission, or vision systems, indicating a lack of foundational ethical direction. Additionally, 191 agencies have no formal policies governing the acceptance of gifts, donations, or hospitality, creating ripe opportunities for unethical influence.
Operational weaknesses were equally glaring. The scorecard revealed that 102 MDAs function without any strategic plan, while 154 do not conduct any monitoring and evaluation of their activities. This suggests a culture of operating without clear goals or accountability for results.
Financial Mismanagement and Weak Anti-Corruption Structures
Financial and procurement irregularities were highlighted as pervasive problems. According to the ICPC, 114 MDAs failed to submit their annual financial reports, a basic requirement for transparency. In a related failure, 96 agencies did not submit their audited accounts within the statutory deadlines. A further 88 MDAs neglected to conduct mandatory annual procurement assessments.
The ACTU Effectiveness Index (AEI), which measures the performance of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units within MDAs, painted a particularly bleak picture. Over 52% of existing ACTUs were rated as ineffective. Even more alarming, nearly 25% of MDAs have not established an ACTU at all, which is a direct breach of the National Anti-Corruption framework.
Other critical gaps identified include inadequate training for procurement officers, weak frameworks for protecting whistleblowers, incomplete codes of conduct for staff, a lack of reward systems for ethical behaviour, and insufficient digitisation of operational records.
ICPC Warns of Consequences and Promises Action
Dr. Aliyu issued a stern warning that these systemic deficiencies directly undermine transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the public sector. He noted that MDAs which fail to enforce robust internal controls remain highly vulnerable to financial mismanagement, project failures, and entrenched systemic corruption.
While acknowledging some marginal improvements in financial management, the Chairman stressed that the findings underscore persistent and deep-rooted challenges in governance, leadership commitment, and the consistent application of ethics and compliance mechanisms.
In response to the alarming report, the ICPC announced plans to implement targeted corrective measures. These will include comprehensive system reviews, detailed risk assessments, and necessary enforcement actions designed to strengthen accountability and transparency across the entire 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 stated. "Ensuring ethical conduct and compliance is not optional; it is essential for effective governance and sustainable national development."
