Reps Committee Urges States to Adopt Anti-Corruption Laws
The House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption has called on state governments across the country to domesticate and implement anti-corruption laws to strengthen transparency and accountability at subnational levels.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, made the call during a public hearing on anti-corruption efforts held in Abuja on Tuesday.
He emphasized that the fight against corruption must go beyond federal initiatives and be embraced fully by state governments.
According to Gagdi, while the federal government has made significant efforts through agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the absence of corresponding legal frameworks at the state level continues to undermine national progress.
“The anti-corruption war cannot be won in isolation. States must take responsibility by enacting and enforcing their own anti-corruption laws. This is the only way to ensure accountability across all tiers of government,” he said.
The committee chairman urged state legislatures to partner with anti-graft agencies, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to develop robust and locally adaptable legislation. He noted that corruption at the state and local government levels directly affects public service delivery, development outcomes, and citizen trust.
The committee also announced plans to collaborate with state assemblies and executives in organizing workshops and technical sessions to support the legislative process for adopting anti-corruption frameworks.
Representatives from the EFCC, ICPC, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and various civil society groups were present at the hearing and expressed support for the committee’s initiative, stressing the importance of institutionalizing the fight against corruption at every level of governance.
The renewed call for decentralized anti-corruption measures comes amid growing public demand for stronger governance and integrity mechanisms across the country.
