The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has called for responsible data management across the Commission, stressing that protecting personal information is essential to preserving public trust and strengthening the agency’s anti-corruption mandate.
According to an official statement signed by the Head, Media and Public Communications, ICPC, J. Okor Odey, Dr. Aliyu made the call while declaring open a One-Day Sensitization and Awareness Programme on Data Protection and Privacy for officers and staff of the Commission at the ICPC Headquarters in Abuja.
The programme, themed “Responsible Data Handling: Strengthening Accountability and Preserving Public Trust through Data Protection,” was organised to deepen awareness of responsible data management practices and reinforce accountability across the Commission.
Represented by the Director of Legal Services, Mr. Henry Emore, the ICPC Chairman underscored the importance of safeguarding the vast amount of personal information handled by the Commission in the course of investigating and prosecuting corruption cases.
“Responsible data handling is inseparable from the Commission’s anti-corruption mandate. Public trust depends not only on our ability to investigate and prosecute corruption-related offences, but also on our capacity to protect the personal information entrusted to us,” he said.
Dr. Aliyu noted that the Commission routinely receives, processes, analyses, stores, shares and retains sensitive information relating to petitioners, suspects, witnesses, complainants, employees, contractors, consultants and members of the public.
According to him, every personal record in the Commission’s custody represents an individual’s dignity, privacy and trust, making it imperative for officers to ensure that such information is handled lawfully, responsibly and securely.
He warned that although data has become one of the most valuable assets in modern governance, enhancing investigations, service delivery and decision-making, its mishandling could expose individuals to harm, compromise investigations, erode public confidence and damage the Commission’s institutional reputation.
“Data protection is no longer the exclusive responsibility of ICT professionals or legal practitioners. It has become an essential element of good governance, transparency, accountability and institutional integrity,” the Chairman stated.
He urged officers and staff to uphold the principles of accountability, fairness, confidentiality and respect for individual rights in the collection, access, use, disclosure, storage and disposal of personal information.
“Every officer has a responsibility to demonstrate integrity in the way personal data is collected, accessed, used, disclosed, stored and disposed of. These principles must guide every aspect of our operations,” he added.
The ICPC Chairman also disclosed that the Commission has strengthened its internal data governance framework through the establishment of the Data Protection and Incident Response Team (DPIRT), comprising officers drawn from various departments and units to identify compliance gaps, improve internal processes, strengthen incident response mechanisms and mainstream privacy considerations into operational activities.
Earlier, the Commission’s Data Protection Officer, Barrister David Nwaze, described the sensitization programme as a strategic initiative aimed at reinforcing the understanding that data protection is not merely a legal obligation but a shared professional responsibility.
He commended the ICPC Chairman and the Commission’s management for their continued support in advancing data protection compliance and urged participants to actively engage in the training.
“Protecting personal data is fundamental to safeguarding institutional integrity, preserving public confidence and strengthening accountability within the Commission,” Nwaze said.
The event featured presentations on responsible data handling and public trust, as well as the collaboration between the ICPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to strengthen data protection compliance across the public sector.
