FG inaugurates Ministerial Committee to drive anti-corruption strategy
By Kunle Sanni
The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2022–2026 Ministerial Committee to combat corruption and enhance the effectiveness of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who presided over the inauguration, emphasized that corruption remains one of the most significant threats to Nigeria’s development, eroding public trust, distorting resource allocation, and weakening service delivery.
Fagbemi stated that the NACS aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption agenda and that the committee will play a crucial role in reducing corruption across all sectors.
The NACS Ministerial Committee consists of top government officials, including:
- Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice – Chairman
- Minister of Finance – Member
- Minister of Interior – Member
- Minister of Foreign Affairs – Member
- Minister of Information and National Orientation – Member
- Minister of Women Affairs – Member
- Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy – Member
- Head of the Civil Service of the Federation – Member
- Chairmen of Senate and House Committees on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes – Members
- Representative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) – Member
The committee will coordinate and oversee the implementation of the NACS framework and ensure Nigeria meets its obligations under international anti-corruption conventions, including:
- The ECOWAS Protocol on the Fight Against Corruption (2001)
- The African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (2003)
- The United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC, 2003)
The NACS 2022–2026 builds on the previous strategy (2017–2021) and was developed through extensive consultations with government agencies, law enforcement bodies, and international partners such as International IDEA.
According to Fagbemi, the strategy is built on five key pillars:
- Prevention of Corruption
- Public Engagement and Ethical Reorientation
- Enforcement and Sanctions
- Recovery and Management of Proceeds of Crime
- Mainstreaming Anti-Corruption in Governance and Public Administration
He stressed that the committee’s role is essential to the success of NACS, as it will guide government agencies in integrating anti-corruption measures into their operations.
Sector-specific strategies will be developed to address corruption challenges across various industries, ensuring alignment with national and sub-national governments.
Fagbemi urged committee members to drive the NACS framework’s implementation and ensure its success at all levels of governance.
He also emphasized securing adequate funding for anti-corruption initiatives and improving inter-agency collaboration to maximize the strategy’s impact.
With the inauguration of the NACS 2022–2026 Ministerial Committee, the Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to combating corruption and strengthening institutional mechanisms to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance in Nigeria.
