Rural Electrification Agency leads in ethical standards among power industry players in ICPC 2025 assessment

The Rural Electrification Agency has achieved the top spot in Nigeria's power sector for its exemplary display of ethics, integrity, and compliance, as revealed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission's 2025 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Ranking.

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This ranking is based on the ICPC's 2025 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard, which was obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday, and highlights the agency's impressive governance and accountability reforms.

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The agency's remarkable ascent to the top position marks a significant improvement, with a 117-place jump from its 157th position in 2024, and a substantial increase in its overall performance rating from 31.4 per cent in 2020 to 71.98 per cent in the current assessment, representing a growth of over 50 per cent in five years.

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In the previous year, the REA ranked 57th in the sector, while in 2020, it was ranked 157th nationally, demonstrating a notable trajectory of improvement.

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According to the agency's Managing Director/CEO, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, this recognition serves as a testament to the reforms implemented over the last two years, which have strengthened governance, enforced compliance, and ensured transparency at every level of operation, with every staff member aware that integrity is a fundamental aspect of their work.

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The agency has also been ranked among the top 15 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies under the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit Effectiveness Index, a nationwide benchmark that assesses the efficiency of anti-corruption systems across public institutions.

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Nationally, the REA is now ranked 20th among all MDAs, a remarkable achievement for an agency that was once ranked 157 out of 220 in 2020.

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The ICPC scorecard evaluated institutions across four key pillars: management culture and structure, financial management systems, administrative processes, and the effectiveness of the ACTU, with the REA excelling in all areas, reflecting its holistic approach to ethical governance and operational excellence.

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As stated by Aliyu, the agency has focused on embedding integrity into its processes, improving reporting mechanisms, and enforcing internal controls, with the ACTU playing a pivotal role in monitoring compliance and preventing vulnerabilities, ensuring that governance is not just procedural but institutionalised.

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The agency's strong ethical standing is particularly significant given its role as the implementing body for Nigeria's renewable energy and rural electrification initiatives, with multiple development partners and investors relying on the REA's credibility, and its governance culture directly impacting energy access interventions and public confidence in national electrification efforts.

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Despite this milestone, Aliyu emphasized that the agency remains committed to continuous improvement, with a target to break into the top 10 MDAs nationally in the next assessment cycle, reflecting a commitment to ongoing institutional excellence.

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The 2025 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard assessed 357 MDAs across Nigeria, combining field verification, documentary evidence, and standardised evaluation templates, with the ICPC's framework encouraging public institutions to institutionalise integrity as a governance principle.

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For the REA, this recognition marks a defining moment in its transformation, reflecting strategic reforms and internal governance measures led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's appointee, and strengthening the agency's credibility with local communities, investors, and international development partners.

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As Nigeria continues to expand electricity access in rural areas, the REA's commitment to integrity and accountability remains a cornerstone of efforts to ensure that electrification initiatives are delivered efficiently, equitably, and sustainably, with Aliyu concluding that the agency will build on this recognition to ensure that trust, professionalism, and ethical leadership remain at the heart of its mandate.