NASS urged to expand Code of Conduct Tribunal panels

The Capacity Building Workshop on the Online Assets Declaration System (OADS) has implored the National Assembly, in its constitutional amendment exercise, to consider increasing the panels of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to adjudicate infractions of the code of conduct for public officers.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Capacity Building Workshop on the Online Assets Declaration System (OADS), convened by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) in collaboration with the Code of Conduct Bureau, and supported by IDEA/European Union under the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme in Jos, Plateau State.

The communiqué, signed by Eze Onyekpere of the Centre for Social Justice; Richard Oketa of the Code of Conduct Bureau; Awashima Atu of Plateau CSO; and Celestine Gogwim of Plateau State Civil/Public Service, enjoined the Federal Government to consider increased funding and support for the Bureau to facilitate the enhanced performance of its constitutional duties.

It urged the National Assembly to expeditiously 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 address other related matters.

The communiqué further called on the Code of Conduct Bureau to swiftly conclude the establishment and logistics of the OADS and ensure full compliance by all public officers within the next two years.

It added that, since civil society and other stakeholders have agreed to intensify engagement with the OADS, efforts should include engagement with the CCB and MDAs, raising awareness, education, and advocacy for the enhanced declaration of assets and liabilities.

One participant also acknowledged the initiative of CSJ and CCB, as well as the support of the European Union/IDEA and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Project. He urged CSJ and CCB to facilitate the continued education of public officers across all states of the Federation on the OADS.

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