In a damning assessment of ethical compliance across Nigeria's federal public sector, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has ranked the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) among 13 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that scored zero points in its 2025 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS), effectively classifying them as "high corruption risk" institutions.
The report, presented on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, in Abuja, and subsequently publicized on Wednesday, evaluated 357 MDAs—out of 360 targeted, with three exempted—using the EICS tool, which measures performance across four critical pillars: Management Culture and Structure, Financial Management Systems, Administrative Systems, and the effectiveness of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU).
ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), represented by Olusegun Adigun, Director of Systems Study and Review, highlighted "widespread weaknesses" in ethics and governance, stating emphatically that no MDA achieved full compliance. The findings underscore persistent vulnerabilities in internal controls, policy implementation, and accountability mechanisms that expose public institutions to corruption risks.
The 13 MDAs that failed to score any points, primarily due to complete non-responsiveness to the assessment process, include NNPC Ltd, the University of Calabar (UNICAL), the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), the Institute of Archaeology and Museum Studies, the Cross River Basin Development Authority, and others. These agencies were flagged for heightened scrutiny, with the ICPC warning of potential profiling, system studies, and enforcement actions for persistent non-compliance.
Overall compliance breakdown: Only 48 MDAs (13.95%) demonstrated substantial compliance, 132 (38.37%) partial compliance, 141 (40.99%) poor compliance, and 23 (6.69%) non-compliance, including the zero-scorers. The report complements the ACTU Effectiveness Index (AEI), emphasizing the need for robust internal anti-corruption units.
Dr. Aliyu noted specific systemic deficiencies: 169 MDAs lack documented core values, mission, and vision statements accessible to staff; 191 have no domesticated policies on gifts, donations, and hospitality; 102 operate without strategic plans; and 154 fail to conduct monitoring and evaluation of programs. Additionally, whistleblower mechanisms are weak in many agencies, with 241 lacking proper policies and 269 not publicizing them.
In the oil and gas sector, the performance was starkly contrasted. While NNPC Ltd bottomed the list, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) emerged as the top-performing agency nationwide, scoring 91.83 points, reflecting substantial compliance under the leadership of outgoing Commission Chief Executive Engr. Gbenga Komolafe. Close behind were the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), followed by the Bank of Industry (BOI).
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) ranked lower at 278th with a score of 38.25. Analysts attribute NUPRC's success to strengthened internal audits, clear separation of regulatory powers, and adherence to procurement and financial guidelines—reforms that have bolstered investor confidence in Nigeria's upstream sector.
The EICS, introduced in 2015 and institutionalized in 2019, serves as a preventive tool to benchmark ethical standards, foster peer comparison, and guide oversight. The ICPC stressed that the scorecard is not punitive but aimed at institutional reform, urging MDAs to prioritize leadership commitment, resource allocation for ACTUs, and consistent policy application.
Critics and civil society groups have long pointed to opacity in NNPC's operations, particularly amid ongoing debates over subsidy removals, revenue remittances, and forensic audits. The zero score—stemming from non-participation—raises questions about the state-owned oil giant's willingness to submit to transparency evaluations, especially as it transitions to a fully commercial entity under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
As of publication, NNPC spokesperson Andy Odeh had not responded to requests for comment on the ranking. The ICPC has pledged intensified interventions, including sectoral rankings and corruption risk assessments, to address these gaps and enhance public sector productivity.
This report comes amid broader anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria, where institutions like the ICPC continue to push for systemic changes despite challenges in enforcement and political will. The 2025 EICS findings serve as a wake-up call for urgent reforms to safeguard public resources and restore trust in governance.
