By Lucky Isibor
Participants at a Capacity Building Workshop on Online Assets Declaration System (OADS) convened by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) in collaboration with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), which held in Benin City on Monday 7 March and Tuesday 8 March, has called on the Federal Government to strengthen the Code of Conduct Bureau by funding it adequately to facilitate the enhancement of its Constitutional role as an anti-corruption agency and intensify the commitment of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to fight corruption to a standstill.
The workshop participants drawn from the Federal and State Public Service in Edo State, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the Media stated this in a communique issued at the end of the workshop and also called on the National Assembly to enact a Bill for an Act to make the assets and liabilities declared by public officers accessible to the public while protecting the privacy of declarants.
The Capacity Building Workshop on Online Assets Declaration System (OADS) was convened by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) in collaboration with the Code of Conduct Bureau, and under the Rule of Law and Anti- Corruption (RoLAC) programme being implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) which is supported by the European Union.
According to the communique which was signed by Eze Onyekpere Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Koyonda Edward for Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Matthew Megwai for Edo CSOs and Edwin Edionwem for Edo State Civil/Public Service noted that the Workshop also resolved and urged the CCB to conclude the provision of logistics for the operationalisation of the Online Assets Declaration System.
“Public officers should promptly and honestly declare their assets and liabilities in a timely manner in accordance with constitutional stipulates.
“Participants resolved to enlighten and sensitize other public officers within their MDAs and subject to availability of resources, to organise step down training in collaboration with CCB.
“Federal Government should consider increased funding and support to the Bureau to facilitate the enhanced performance of its constitutional duties.
“The National Assembly in the constitution amendment exercise should consider increasing the panels of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to adjudicate infractions of the code of conduct for public officers.
“The National Assembly should consider the enactment of a Bill for an Act to make the assets and liabilities declared by public officers accessible to the public, protect the privacy of declarants and other matters connected therewith”.
While acknowledging the contributions of CSJ and CCB, the support of the European Union/IDEA and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Project, they urged CSJ and CCB to facilitate the continued education of public officers in all the states of the Federation on the OADS just as they urged Civil Society Organisations to intensify engagements on the OADS with relevant stakeholders.
“Civil society should intensify engagement of the OADS. This should include the engagement of the CCB and MDAs; raising awareness, education and advocacy for enhanced declaration of assets and liabilities.
“Participants acknowledged the initiative of CSJ and CCB, the support of the European Union/IDEA and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Project and urged CSJ and CCB to facilitate the continued education of public officers in all the states of the Federation on the OADS”.