Policy Reforms and Performance Trajectory of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Nigeria

Corruption is one of the greatest problems confronting governance in many parts of the world. Nigerian nation is blessed with large resources which are mismanaged by its leaders. The cases of corruption and revelations and reports of corrupt practices at various governmental institutions such as the EFCC, ICPC and others attest to the fact that Nigeria is indeed in a deep governance crisis. The seriousness on the part of government to fight corruption propelled the proposal of framework for establishing the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during Obasanjo's regime. This study therefore examines anti-corruption policies in Nigeria, with focus on the strengths and the weaknesses of these institutions and identified some strategies that will enhance the effectiveness of the EFCC and ICPC in their operations. The methodology adopted is qualitative technique of data collection through the content analysis conducted by scholars on the subject matter. Secondary sources of data were used in this study. These include journals, textbooks, newspapers, magazines, official records, government gazettes and internet facilities. The study therefore finds out that, the establishment of these two agencies has not yielded positive result as corruption continues to increase in the polity. Hence, the study recommends that, for better functioning and prevention of delay in trial of corrupt culprits, it is imperative for establishment of a designated court with competent, experienced and incorruptible judiciary designated to prosecute corruption cases.