The Nigerian Senate has reaffirmed its dedication to tackling the issues confronting the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
This commitment was expressed during a courtesy visit from a delegation led by Dr. Abdullahi Bello, the Chairman of the CCB, to Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s office on Thursday, December 5.
In his address, Akpabio characterized the bureau as an essential entity in fostering accountability and discipline among public officials, recognizing its vital role in promoting transparency within governance.
“The Code of Conduct Bureau is a very important agency of government, not only in terms of bringing about moral rectitude but also in terms of discipline of public officers and ensuring accountability,” he said.
Highlighting the Senate’s reliance on the CCB, Akpabio said: “We don’t normally clear any public officer in the Senate unless we are assured that the person has attached an acknowledgement form of their declaration of assets before the Code of Conduct Bureau.”
The Senate President expressed the legislature’s readiness to respond to complaints about inadequate budgetary allocation and infrastructure challenges.
“You have come to the right place at the right time. We will engage those who bring budgetary estimates before the National Assembly to ensure that the Code of Conduct Bureau is not stifled by inadequate funding.
“We have taken serious parliamentary note of your requests, and we will do something about it. I assure you of our readiness to collaborate with the Bureau to achieve its mandate,” Akpabio assured.
Bello previously emphasized the difficulties faced by the Bureau, which include inadequate funding, issues related to office space, a shortage of personnel, and logistical limitations.
He urged the Senate to take immediate action to allow the Bureau to carry out its constitutional duties effectively.