The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has reaffirmed that responsible data handling is central to its anti-corruption mandate, telling staff in Abuja that protecting personal information is essential to maintaining public trust and safeguarding the integrity of investigations.
Speaking at a one-day Data Protection and Privacy Sensitisation and Awareness Programme at the Commission’s headquarters, ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, said public confidence depends not only on the agency’s ability to investigate and prosecute corruption cases but also on its commitment to protecting personal data entrusted to it.
Represented by the Director of Legal Services, Mr. Henry Emore, Dr. Aliyu said the Commission processes and stores large volumes of sensitive information relating to petitioners, suspects, witnesses, complainants, employees, contractors, consultants and members of the public while carrying out its statutory responsibilities.
He said every personal record held by the Commission represents an individual’s dignity, privacy and trust. Therefore, officers must ensure that all information is collected, processed, stored, shared and disposed of lawfully, responsibly and securely.
Data protection linked to institutional accountability
Dr. Aliyu said data has become one of the most valuable assets in modern governance because it supports decision-making, public service delivery and investigations. However, he warned that poor data management could expose individuals to harm, compromise investigations, erode public confidence and damage institutional credibility.
He stressed that data protection is no longer the sole responsibility of information technology specialists or legal practitioners. Instead, he described it as a core element of good governance, transparency, accountability and institutional integrity.
The ICPC Chairman urged staff to uphold the principles of accountability, fairness, confidentiality and respect for individual rights in every stage of handling personal information. He said responsible data management remains inseparable from the Commission’s broader efforts to combat corruption.
Strengthening compliance across the public sector
Dr. Aliyu also highlighted measures the Commission has introduced to strengthen its internal data protection framework. These include the establishment of the Data Protection and Incident Response Team (DPIRT), which brings together officers from different departments to identify compliance gaps, improve internal processes, strengthen incident response and integrate privacy safeguards into daily operations.
Earlier, the Commission’s Data Protection Officer, Barr. David Nwaze, described the programme as a strategic initiative aimed at reinforcing the understanding that data protection is not only a legal obligation but also a professional responsibility and a shared institutional value.
Nwaze thanked the ICPC Chairman and the Commission’s management for supporting the agency’s data protection compliance efforts. He encouraged participants to engage actively, share experiences and apply the lessons learned in their daily duties, saying that protecting personal information is essential to preserving institutional integrity, strengthening accountability and maintaining public confidence.
The event featured presentations by Mr. Inelegwu Egahi on “Responsible Data Handling: Strengthening Accountability and Preserving Public Trust through Data Protection” and by Nigeria Data Protection Commission official Barr. Babatunde Bamigboye on “The ICPC–NDPC Collaboration: Leveraging ICPC’s Institutional Mandate to Strengthen Data Protection Compliance in the Public Sector.”
The programme reflects Nigeria’s broader efforts to strengthen data governance within public institutions as digital information increasingly underpins government services, law enforcement and anti-corruption initiatives.
