by Yusuf Mohammed Lawan, Gombe
I8th August, 2025
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has pledged stronger partnerahip and collaboration with Nigeria’s disability community to fight corruption, dismantle discrimination, and promote equal opportunities for PWDs in Nigeria.
This was disclosed during a strategic meeting between the Pioneers Ad-Hoc Consortium of the Disability Civil Rights Movement (DCRM) and ICPC's representatives in Abuja recently.
Presenting the DCRM's collaborative proposal to the ICPC's representatives, Lady Omotunde Ellen Thompson, Co-Founder and the BoT Chairperson of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), highlighted key challenges faced by the disability community which she claimed caused by pervasive corruption, systemic neglect, and structural barriers.
She commended ICPC for its professionalism, empathy in pursuing justice, and physical support during court proceedings.
Her words; “We value ICPC’s track record in addressing high-profile cases and the compassion it has shown. But more must be done to ensure dignity, protection, and fairness for persons with disabilities".
The JONAPWD BoT Chairperson further made a bold request to the Nigerian authorities to consider creating a "Department of Veteran Affairs" in Nigeria to address the welfare of law enforcement officers and persons with disabilities, including timely salary payments, healthcare access, and adequate protection to reduce insecurity and social unrest.
She further requested for the prompt appointment of a dedicated desk officer for disability matters in the ICPC, specialized training programs, audits of donor funds for disability-focused projects, as well as the inclusive and accessible policymaking dialogues.
Earlier in his swift response, the ICPC's Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, who was ably represented by the ICPC's Secretary Mr. Clifford Oparaodu, emphasized the Commission’s inclusive recruitment policy and commitment to act swiftly on all verifiable petitions, regardless of the petitioner’s background.
Mr. Oparaodu stated, “ICPC does not discriminate in its recruitment or operations. We treat every verifiable petition on its merit, irrespective of the petitioner’s background or vulnerability,”
While welcoming the proposals from the consortium, Mr. Oparaodu confirmed the Commission’s readiness to explore joint initiatives, including tackling corruption in disability-focused institutions, strengthening whistleblower engagement, and improving accessibility.
''We are excited about the possibilities of this partnership and are determined to make sure it delivers real results for the disability community“ he said.
A key takeaway from the partnership is the presentation of a formal petition and the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize collaboration with ICPC and the DCRM, which is expected to yield a desired results in the coming days, Ability News Network can reports.
The engagement underscores the renewed commitment of the two groups to fostering Inclusive justice for all irrespective of status, physical ability or background. The meeting also highlight the total commitment from the ICPC to act on any verifiable petition within its mandate.
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