In a shocking revelation, Nigeria’s Supreme Court, alongside 14 other prominent government agencies, has failed the 2024 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS), an annual evaluation carried out by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The results of the assessment, presented at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja, highlight a troubling lack of adherence to ethical standards and compliance across key institutions.

The ICPC’s findings show that none of the 330 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) evaluated achieved full compliance with the established guidelines. The Supreme Court, as well as other non-compliant institutions, received a score of zero, underscoring significant systemic lapses in crucial areas such as whistleblower policies, strategic planning, and financial accountability. According to the ICPC, these agencies failed primarily due to the absence of robust whistleblower frameworks, weak strategic plans, and ineffective stock verification processes.

Moreover, many agencies struggled with basic financial management practices, including failing to produce financial reports or conduct thorough audits, further eroding public confidence in their operations. The EICS assessed the MDAs across five critical performance indicators, which included management culture, governance, financial systems, and administrative systems. With such widespread shortcomings, the public sector’s credibility continues to be questioned.

Among the institutions that scored a dismal 0.00 on the scorecard were the Supreme Court, the Nigeria Press Council, the Legal Aid Council, the National Hajj Commission, and several universities, including Obafemi Awolowo University and the University of Ibadan. The ICPC’s report signals a pressing need for reform within these agencies, as systemic weaknesses continue to undermine their effectiveness and accountability. As the country grapples with the fallout from this revelation, the question remains: how will these institutions address the severe lapses identified in the report?