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The two days Online
Asset Declaration System capacity building workshop presented by the Centre for
Social Justice in collaboration with the Code of Conduct Bureau with support
from the International IDEA and ROLAC Programme of the European Union on
improving the effectiveness of anti-corruption process and reforms in Nigeria,
has come to a close with a call on public servants and politicians as well to
truthfully and honestly declare their assets.
In an opening
speech by the Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Dr. Abdullahi Bello
Usman, represented by the Chief Superintendent of the Bureau at the occasion, Mrs.
Ivy Ekpenyong, the Chairman observed that corruption remains one of the most
formidable obstacles to Nigeria’s growth and development, explaining that declaration
of assets is not just a statutory obligation but a moral imperative which is an
obligation on public officers to comply and CCB to enforce compliance with the Code
of Conduct for Public Officers.
‘’We
cannot ignore the reality of our time.
Manual systems are susceptible to inefficiency, opacity and abuse. This is why the transition to digital Assets
Declaration Platform is not just an upgrade, but a revolution. By leveraging technology,
we eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, reduce human interference and create an
acceptable trail that deters malfeasance.
This system will empower public officials to declare Assets seamlessly
while enabling real-time monitoring by shareholders. This workshop, however, is
not merely about deploying tools, it is about building capacity, fostering
ownership and nurturing collaboration.’’
In an address of
welcome, the Executive Director, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Barrister Eze
Onyekpere, revealed that the workshop is part of a systematic partnership, aimed
at developing learning and everyday use materials for public officers on the
new Online Assets Declaration System, adding that it is also to build capacity
across Ministries, Departments and Agencies at the federal and state levels with
Anambra, Edo, Lagos, Plateau, Adamawa and Kano as focal states as well as the
Federal Capital Territory.
‘’The
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended mandates every
public officer, from the Cleaner in the Local Government to the President of
the Federal Republic to declare his assets and liabilities at given
periods. It also establishes the Code of
Conduct Bureau which oversees and manages the assets and liabilities
declaration system. If every public officer complies with the law, there will
be not less than ten million declarations of assets and liabilities. Continuing
with the old paper, analogue declaration of assets will involve massive
logistics challenges ranging from storage space, protection from pests and
rodents, processing, verification and follow - up activities.’’
Responding to
questions, the Adamawa State CCB Director, Justin Fave Choon, appreciates the
collaboration between the CCB and CSJ, noting that anti-corruption reforms desire
citizens’ actively demanding accountability and public servants to lead by
example so as to establish a system where corruption cannot survive, confirming
CCB’s commitment towards achieving that, assuring that they will continue to
innovate, collaborate and enforce compliance without fear of favour.
‘’We have
a department known as Investigation and Monitoring. That department goes out to
investigate, to monitor the life style of public officers. Normally, when an
officer acquires illegal wealth, or something outside their emoluments, these
things manifest themselves in assets acquisition – houses, cars, landed
properties, and sometimes they invest into companies’ shares and stuff like
that. Therefore, even when there is no petition, on our own, through that department,
we make sure that we track the records of such public officers. Whenever we see
a public officer living a flamboyant life, and obviously beyond what is supposed
to be outside their salaries and emoluments, it calls for questions and we can
swing into action for that.’’
A participant from
the Adamawa State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Abalis Akila, also
commended CCB and CSJ for coming together in the fight against corruption
especially in the civil service, urging civil servants to harness the power of
technology to safeguarding Nigeria’s resources and restore public confidence,
insisting that civil servants must accept the Online Assets Declaration System with
all sincerity and fear of God so as Nigerians can build a legacy of integrity
for generations to come.
‘’You know;
it is about accountability. Whatever you have, it is expected you say the exact.
This workshop enables us to know how we can declare our assets accordingly and
exactly online. Therefore, you do not say the least when you have much, and you
do not say much when you have the least. So you declare whatever you have and account
for it. Anything you say more than that you have to explain and anything you say
less than that you also have to explain. So it is expected one should say the
exact – this is what I have and I stand by it.’’
During the two-day
event, there were presentations on the Code of Conduct Bureau, Code of Conduct
for Public Officers, Code of Conduct Tribunal, Categories of assets and
liabilities, step-by-step presentations on assets declaration procedure,
practical demonstrations, group work, pre and post-examinations, discussions,
questions and answers, as well as a group photograph.