The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has called for comprehensive reforms to address governance weaknesses and corruption risks in Nigeria’s health and education sectors.
The commission presented three follow up assessment reports examining the implementation of earlier recommendations made to the National Health Insurance Authority, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Universal Basic Education Commission and selected State Universal Basic Education Boards.
ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, said the reports reflected the commission’s growing focus on preventing corruption by strengthening institutional systems instead of relying solely on prosecution.
He explained that the commission is empowered to identify weaknesses in public institutions and recommend reforms capable of preventing corruption before public resources are lost.
The assessments examined the extent to which earlier recommendations had been implemented and identified areas requiring further action.
Aliyu said the effectiveness of system studies and corruption risk assessments must be measured by improvements in transparency, accountability, operational efficiency and public service delivery.
He stressed that the reviews were not intended to blame institutions but to encourage continuous improvement.
The selected agencies, he said, provide essential healthcare and education services to millions of Nigerians and must therefore maintain strong safeguards against fraud and mismanagement.
Although progress had been recorded, Aliyu said several recommendations remained outstanding.
He urged the institutions to strengthen internal controls, oversight mechanisms and accountability systems.
Lead Director of the Centre for Social Justice, Eze Onyekpere, identified persistent corruption risks including health insurance payment leakages, diversion of medicines, ghost workers, fraudulent enrolment, procurement irregularities, abandoned school projects and weak supervision of public funds.
He called for greater use of digital platforms that would allow citizens to monitor health insurance enrolment, primary healthcare services and education projects.
Onyekpere also recommended electronic procurement, stronger whistleblower protection, improved staff welfare, independent oversight and wider deployment of technology to reduce excessive human discretion.
Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Tunji Olaopa, said institutional reform offered a more sustainable solution to corruption than enforcement alone.
He urged public agencies to adopt transparent recruitment procedures, conflict of interest declarations, stronger audit systems, ethical leadership and technology supported administration.
The assessments were conducted with support from the European Union backed Rule of Law and Anti Corruption Programme and the Centre for Social Justice.
