A 2-day workshop organised by the Nasarawa State Government in collaboration with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) for Public Office Holders in Nasarawa State ended with a call on them to imbibe accountability in carrying out their responsibilities.
The workshop which aimed at entrenching the culture of honesty, transparency and accountability in the management of public institutions, was also attended by members of the State House of Assembly.
Drawn from the three arms of government, the participants included High Court Judges, members of the Judicial Service Commission, Permanent Secretaries and other public officers.
The state government said it is synergizing with relevant institutions of government and other non-governmental organizations towards the realization of this noble aspiration.
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Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, who warned public officers in the state against extra-budgetary expenditures, said his administration would not tolerate conducts contrary to the Act establishing the Code of Conduct Bureau.
According to the Governor, it does not make any sense for public officers to continue to by-pass the 2020 budget earlier passed into law by the State House of Assembly, especially if they want to be honest, accountable and transparent.
To this end, the Governor has directed all public officers in the state to declare their assets, in line with the provision of the CCB, to guard against the wrath of the law, further warning of grave consequences for non compliance with the CCB Act Cap15 LFN2004.
“With government revenue just recovering from the effect of COVID-19, it has become necessary to synergize with relevant institutions of government and other non governmental organizations, in order to block leakages and ensure that resources at the disposal of government are prudently managed.
“We shall spare no effort in safeguarding our commonwealth,” he stated.
Sule reiterated the resolve of his administration to continue to impact the culture of discipline and transparency in government affairs, explaining that, the decision of his administration to establish the Bureau for Public Procurement, was aimed at ensuring accountability and due process in the management of public resources.
“The vision of the CCB under the Act is enormous and pubic officers are encouraged to be on the side of the law,” he added.
The Chairman of the CCB, Mohammed Isah, said the bureau has the enormous mandate to establish and maintain a high standard of morality in the conduct of government business, towards ensuring that actions and behaviours of public officers conform to the highest standard of public morality and accountability.
The CCB Chairman later presented an award to the Governor for his prompt compliance with the CCB Act by declaring his assets, shortly after he was elected Governor.
