Public office holders in Nigeria have been asked to prioritize public interest over personal gains, and be honest, transparent and accountable in various public offices they are occupying for all round development and progress of the country.

 

The Federal Commissioner, representing South East Zone at the Code of Conduct Bureau Board, Barrister Dave Umano, gave the instruction during the opening of a two-day sensitization workshop on strict compliance with assets declaration and code of conduct for public office holders in Awka by Code of Conduct Bureau; in collaboration with Anambra State Government.

Participants at the event were state Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Directors from various ministries, chairmen and members of boards of state government-owned agencies, Senior Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants.

 

Barrister Umano reminded the participants that as public officers, they are expected to comply with the Code of Conduct for Public Officers as prescribed in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, and other laws related thereto, informing them that the Bureau has embarked on assets verification of all declarations made by public officers, and that soon they will be invited by various teams handling the exercise.

The Federal Commissioner, Barrister Umano, called on other state governments in Nigeria to borrow a leaf from the Anambra State Government and replicate the workshop in their various states so as to ensure appreciable compliance from all public officers across Nigeria.

 

Presenting a paper on Code of Conduct for Public Officers, the Director, Education Department, Code of Conduct Bureau Headquarters, Abuja, Mr. Daniel Okafor, identified poor resource management as the major hindrance to Nigeria’s ability to measure up with other countries of the world in development and progress, saying that the Code of Conduct for Public Officers is aimed at ensuring transparency in public service, eradication of corrupt practices and ensuring effective service delivery by public officers in the interest of the masses.

Emphasizing that corruption destroys moral values and takes a country backward, Mr. Okafor urged public officers to be epitome of integrity and morality at all times, reminding them that they are at the office to serve the public, and as such are expected to do it cheerfully, and avoid all forms of bribery and corruption, intimidation of people with their official powers, in order to protect the dignity of the offices they occupy and save themselves from consequences of misconducts in public service.

 

In a presentation on practical guide to the completion of the Assets Declaration Form, CCB-1, the Director, Code of Conduct Bureau, Anambra State, Mr. Michael Okwose, advised public officers to be careful while declaring their assets, and to be sincere while filling the declaration form, as according to him, one can be prosecuted if the Code of Conduct Bureau discovers that what the public officer filled is false.

 

 

Saying that the Assets Declaration Form is a must-fill by public officers, Mr. Okwose explained that officers can pick up the form from any Code of Conduct Bureau office near them, handle it as a secret document, personally fill and submit the form to the Code of Conduct Bureau office.

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