The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has raised fresh concerns over transparency at the grassroots, revealing that only seven out of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas currently operate functional websites.

ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, disclosed this during a Channels Television programme on Friday, August 22, hosted by former presidential aide Laolu Akande. He noted that the lack of digital presence cuts across all six geo-political zones, making it difficult for citizens to access vital information on governance, spending, and service delivery.

According to him, the commission recently launched a “Corruption Prevention Programme” for local governments, focusing on five key areas — open fiscal transparency, procurement, corruption control, human resources, and citizen engagement.

“But what we discovered was shocking,” Aliyu said. “Out of 774 local governments in Nigeria, only seven have websites that are actually working. If citizens cannot even check what their leaders are doing online, then accountability becomes almost impossible.”

The ICPC boss also accused some public officials of mismanaging public resources. “You will see a public officer who should install street lights for everyone, but instead diverts them to his own house,” he added.

Aliyu further explained that the commission is tracking constituency projects to ensure they reach the intended beneficiaries. “We monitor projects in critical sectors like education, health, agriculture, and empowerment. Where contractors abandon sites or underperform, we compel them to return. This has helped recover funds and improve delivery,” he said.

He added that the ICPC, working with the EFCC, is also pushing for the passage of a law against unexplained wealth, stressing that grassroots transparency is crucial to achieving good governance in Nigeria.