FG moves to review Code of Conduct Bureau, Tribunal – TheNigerialawyer

The Federal government has taken steps to reform the Code of
Conduct Bureau and Tribunal ((CCB/T) to make it more efficient in
curbing unethical conducts among public Servants.

This came with a call on public servants in the country to
support the Federal Government’s numerous initiatives to curtail
unethical conduct, abuse of office and other forms of
corruption.

The call was made Tuesday in Abuja by the Minister of Justice
and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami,
Acting Chairman, Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC), Professor
Jummai Audi and Director Generals Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB),
Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

They were joined by the National Institute for Legislative and
Democratic Studies (NILDS), Mohammed Isa, Danladi Umar, and
Professor Abubakar Suleiman.

They spoke separately at the national workshop on the reform of
the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal (CCB/T) Act and related
provisions of the Constitution, organised by the NLRC.

In his speech, the AGF, who was represented by the Special
Assistant to the President on Financial Crimes, Abiodun Aikomo
noted that when completed the CCB/T Act will aid the capacities of
the CCB and CCT to effectively carry out their tasks of enforcing
code of conduct among public officer sand punishing infraction.

Besides, Malami observed that the workshop is “aimed at
harnessing relevant ideas through brainstorming together with
stakeholders and participants in order to improve the legal
framework that will empower important institutions such as the CCB
and CCT to function in a manner is appropriate to address the
current national endemic issue of corruption and abuse of public
office by public officers.

“One major achievement of this administration is the successful
prosecution of public officers for failure to comply with the codes
of conduct enshrined in the Constitution and the Code of Conduct
Bureau and Tribunal Act especially as regards non-declaration of
assets and falsification of assets on declaration forms.

“Furthermore, it is the Federal Government’s believe that more
successes will be attained by these institutions if their
establishment Act is strengthened,” Malami said.

Audi identified the various aspects of the CCB/T Act identified
for review, which included the need to move the CCT to be part of
the Judiciary to guarantee its independence.

She said the review excise was mandated by the AGF in view of
“the astronomical rise in cases of corruption and its pervasive
negative effect on the social and economic development of Nigeria
and being concerned with the urgent need to deal with the
disturbing situation.”

The NLRC acting Chairman noted that after a closer look at the
CCB/T Act and the Constitution, it was “observed that apart from
the problem in the composition of the CCT, there are several other
provisions of the Act that require reform in order to reposition
the Bureau and the Tribunal for greater efficiency.”

Isa noted that corruption is more prevalent in the public
service than the public sector.

He argued that public servants all agree to commit themselves to
the code of conduct for public officers and shun all forms of
corruption, the country will record a huge success in the fight
against corruption.

Suleiman, represented by Professor Edoba Omoregie hailed the
NLRC’s decision to reform the CCB/T Act and noted that if
completed, the law will aid the CCB and CCT in the operations.

Umar spoke in similar vein and assured that the CCT will not
relent in its commitment to the discharge of its
responsibilities.

He said the review of the law has been long overdue and noted
that past attempt at reform in CCB/CCT Act, which came into
operation in 1989, have been unsuccessful.