The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has vowed to ensure total enforcement of local government autonomy
The chairman of the anti-graft agency, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu SAN, disclosed this on Thursday, in his welcome address at a one-day National Anti-Corruption Coalition
Dr Aliyu said local governments across the country are supposed to be governed by democratically elected officials who would not only discharge their responsibilities effectively but had the interest of the people at heart.
“Local governments must be governed by democratically elected people from the grassroots.
“You need to ensure that those that are going to be elected are people that have us in their mind; people that will discharge their responsibilities effectively in a responsible way.
”Not people that will divert public funds, and ICPC, as a commission, we will ensure that we impose compliance no matter what,” the ICPC boss said.
According to Aliyu, apart from the fact that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) was clear on the issue of local government autonomy, there was the need to protect the integrity of Nigerian courts.
This, he said, ICPC was ready to do by ensuring implementation of the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government autonomy to the letter.
“We have to protect the integrity of our courts. I will not stand by and watch some people dismantle it. Not during my time.
“They can do it if I am not here, but not while I am here. I am not scared. I am determined.
“I will protect the integrity of the court. I will lead the fight. I put my trust in God. Nobody can do anything to me except God allows it,” Dr Aliyu vowed.
Credit: Nig Tribune