Public Officers enlightened more on Code of Conduct Bureau legalities

 The Nigerian Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba, has advised public officers to uphold the moral standard, and also ensure that their interests do not conflict with their responsibilities as they carry out government activities.

He advised at a two-day workshop organised by the Code of Conduct Bureau for staff of the ministry in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

The Minister said putting aside their interests would ensure a well-motivated and transparent workforce that will bring about national development.

 “It was important for Public officers to conform to the highest standards of public morality and accountability.” Mr Agba said.

He also urged the public officers to ensure that they abide by the code of conduct expected of public officers and ensure that they declare their assets periodically.

On his part, the Chairman Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) Professor Mohammed Isah also called on the participants to take it as their responsibilities to be morally guided in their various endeavours.

Professor Isah added that the Bureau decided to educate public officers on what is expected of them so that they do not feign ignorance of the law.

“We have 14 Code of Conducts for Public Officers and the asset declaration is one of the codes, all these codes should be taken seriously as it will help them maintain a high level of morality and accountability, Bureau has been seen as so soft, but we want the Public Officers to know that once they are found culpable, we have the power to prosecute them in the court. So abiding by the Code of Conducts should be taken as an individual responsibility, which is enshrined in the constitution,” he said.

He also urged the participants to ensure they pass down lessons learnt from the workshop to their subordinates in their various departments.

Dominica Nwabufo