ICPC, Ondo Partner to Deepen Accountability in 18 LGAs

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Ondo State Government have intensified efforts to strengthen transparency and fiscal responsibility at the grassroots, following a three-day capacity-building workshop targeting all 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.

The accountability drive, which convened 226 participants including Local Government Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, Heads of Departments, and senior administrative officers, focused on enhancing fiscal discipline and boosting Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) through improved public financial management practices.

The training forms part of the ICPC’s Accountability and Corruption Prevention Programme for Local Governments (ACPP-LG), a reform initiative aimed at embedding transparency, strengthening internal control systems, and institutionalising ethical standards in local council administration.

Speaking on behalf of ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, the Commission’s Head of Constituency Project Tracking and Local Government Initiative, Bello Idris Bakori, described the workshop as a strategic intervention designed to convert knowledge into measurable governance reforms.

“This workshop is not just an academic exercise. It marks the commencement of a transformative process aimed at embedding sustainable governance practices at the grassroots,” Bakori stated.

The workshop was formally inaugurated by Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Amidu Takuro. The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, stressing that transparency, fiscal discipline, and professionalism are non-negotiable in managing public resources critical to community development.

Participants underwent intensive technical sessions on best practices in financial reporting, internal audit systems, asset management, procurement controls, fraud risk assessment, strategic budgeting, and tax reforms aimed at revenue optimisation. The programme will conclude with a detailed session on the legal provisions of the ICPC Act, 2000, after which certificates will be awarded to participants.

The initiative underscores a growing collaboration between anti-corruption agencies and state governments to fortify local governance structures, close revenue leakages, and enhance service delivery at the grassroots level.