Asset Declaration: CCB Urges Public Office Holders To Embrace OADS

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CBB) has called on public officers to embrace its online Assets Declaration System (OADS), which is the digitised form of Asset declaration.

The CBB made the call at a capacity Building Workshop on online Asset declaration system organised by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) in collaboration with the Bureau, with support from Rule of LAW and Anti Corruption (RoLAC) Programme in Awka, on Wednesday.

Making a presentation on “the Code of Conduct Bureau, Code of Conduct for Public Officers and the Code of Conduct Tribunal,” the HOD Education and Advocacy Department of the Bureau, Koyonda Edward, emphasised the need for public officers to always declare their assets accordingly as required by the law.

Koyonda explained that the online asset declaration system was developed to ease and enhance compliance with asset declaration.

While reeling out the provisions of the Code of Conduct for public officers, the HOD stated that the code was enacted to engender honesty, transparency and accountability, eradicate corrupt Practices in public office and prohibit public officers from abuse of public offices.

He advised public officers to get acquainted with the provisons of the code of conduct for public officers and act accordingly, warning that ignorance of the law can never be an excuse.

On his part, the Lead Director of  Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Eze Onyekpere stated that the 1999 constitution, requires all public and civil servants to declare their assets, but only a small percentage of persons expected to declare assets comply with the law.

While making a presentation on the categories of assets and liabilities to be declared, Onyekpere noted that everything that represents an asset and liability must be declared, including loans, bank cheques, drafts, shares, household items, among others.

He stated that this intervention seeks to improve compliance,  activate the benefits of the OADS and make the people understand the role they can play in the process of enthroning transparency and public accountability in Nigeria.

Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) was one of the organising partners.