The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has emphasised that public enlightenment remains a vital tool for strengthening accountability, promoting transparency, and fostering ethical conduct in the nation’s public service.
He made this known in Abuja when he received the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Dr Abdullahi Usman Bello, and his delegation on a courtesy visit to the Ministry.
According to the information minister, “Increasing public awareness about the mandate of the Bureau is essential to preventing corruption and strengthening governance.”
“Many public servants in this country do not know so much about the Code of Conduct Bureau beyond asset declaration; this situation must change through sustained public enlightenment,” he said.
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Idris stressed that the Bureau’s role is largely preventive rather than punitive, noting that its core responsibility is to stop violations before they occur.
“The Code of Conduct Bureau is not about arresting people after offences are committed; its primary duty is to prevent those infractions from happening in the first place,” he stressed.
He also called for stronger collaboration between institutions, emphasising that consistent engagement is necessary to achieve lasting impact.
“This engagement should not be a one-off event; it must be sustained to deepen awareness, strengthen institutions, and promote ethical conduct in public service,” the Minister stated.
While highlighting the importance of synergy, Idris noted that enforcement alone cannot curb unethical behaviour without adequate awareness.
“Enforcement and awareness must go hand in hand; without awareness, enforcement alone will not stop unethical conduct,” he said.
He further assured the Code of Conduct Bureau of the ministry’s full support, pledging to deploy its agencies to amplify the Bureau’s activities and promote accountability across government institutions.
Speaking earlier, the chairman of the CCB, Dr Abdullahi Usman Bello, said there was a need for strategic collaboration with the Ministry, particularly in the areas of public sensitisation and ethical reorientation.
“CCB is not only an enforcement agency; we are primarily a preventive organisation committed to ensuring that public servants do not engage in corrupt practices in the first place,” Bello said.
According to him, the Bureau is seeking partnership with the Ministry to enhance nationwide sensitisation campaigns, media engagement, and capacity building for public officers.
Bello emphasised that leveraging the ministry’s communication platforms would improve compliance with asset declaration requirements and foster a culture of integrity and transparency in the public sector.
The meeting had in attendance key government officials, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam; the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Press Council, Dr Dili Ezughah; and other senior officials and dignitaries.