The Federal Government has underscored the importance of public enlightenment concerning the role of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in preventing corruption and unethical conduct in the public service.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris,who spoke on Thursday when he played host to CCB delegation led by its Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Usman Bello, said the mandate of the bureau goes beyond arresting corruption offenders, to promoting accountability, transparency, and ethical standards in Nigeria’s public service.
“Many public servants in this country do not know so much about the Code of Conduct Bureau beyond asset declaration; this must change through sustained public enlightenment,” the minister stated.
He underscored the preventive mandate of the Bureau, stressing that its role goes beyond enforcement to stopping infractions 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 said.
The Minister in a statement by Rabiu Ibrahim, his Special Assistant (Media), called for sustained institutional collaboration.
“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,” he added.
Alhaji Idris stressed the importance of synergy between enforcement and communication, adding that awareness and enforcement must work together to achieve meaningful compliance.
“Enforcement and awareness must go hand in hand; without awareness, enforcement alone will not stop unethical conduct,” he noted.
He assured the Bureau of the Ministry’s full support, stating that all its agencies will be deployed to amplify the activities of the CCB and promote accountability across government institutions.
The Chairman, Dr Bello, had, in his remarks, highlighted the importance of strategic collaboration between his agency and the Ministry of Information in driving public sensitisation and strengthening ethical standards in governance.
CCB, according to him, is not only an enforcement agency but primarily “a preventive organisation committed to ensuring that public servants do not engage in corrupt practices in the first place.”
Dr Bello noted that the bureau is seeking a partnership with the ministry in areas of nationwide sensitisation campaigns, media engagement, capacity building for public officers, and dissemination of its activities to enhance public awareness.
He added that by leveraging the ministry’s communication platforms, the CCB would significantly improve compliance with asset declaration requirements and promote a culture of integrity, accountability, and transparency in public service.
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