CCB Digitalisation Aligns with Abia Reform Agenda, Says Gov. Otti
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has stated that the digital transition of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) aligns with global best practices and the reform agenda of the Abia State Government.
Dr. Otti made this known on Tuesday while commending the Code of Conduct Bureau for its move toward the digitisation of asset declaration processes.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State, Ctz. Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, said that Otti received a delegation led by the Zonal Director of the Code of Conduct Bureau, South-East Zone, Mr. Akinfolarin Feyishola.
“We look forward to a situation where someone can sit in the comfort of their home, fill out the form, and submit it electronically. That is where the world has gone.
“This is also the direction this government is heading. Even Certificates of Occupancy are now processed and signed electronically,” Otti said.
The governor noted that the state has embraced digital governance as a means of improving efficiency and service delivery.
He added that individuals who fail to adapt to technological changes risk being left behind.
Otti emphasised the importance of the CCB in Nigeria’s democratic system, stating that compliance with asset declaration should be a minimum standard for every public officeholder.
Abia Governor added that no public officer has any excuse for non-compliance.
“The Code of Conduct Bureau is a necessary part of our democratic system and, for me personally, it is a minimum standard for people who wish to operate in the public sector,” he said.
The governor further disclosed that he and his deputy duly declared their assets before assuming office, adding that all political appointees and public officers in the state must comply with the constitutional requirement.
Otti also directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to work with relevant officials to ensure full compliance by all officers required to declare their assets.
He further instructed the Commissioner for Lands to inspect the CCB office in Umuahia with a view to upgrading the facility.
He also pledged that the state government would consider the Bureau’s request for an official vehicle to support its operations in the state.
Earlier, in his remarks, the Zonal Director of the Code of Conduct Bureau, South-East Zone, Mr. Akinfolarin Feyishola, commended Governor Otti for his achievements, noting that they are visible and widely reported across the country. He stated that his visit was to formally inform the governor of the Bureau’s presence in the South-East Zone, including its office in Umuahia.
He also expressed appreciation for the governor’s encouragement of public officers and appointees to comply with mandatory asset declaration requirements.
Feyishola disclosed that the Bureau is working towards automating the asset declaration process and appealed to the governor to support its planned sensitisation programme for political officeholders in Abia State.
He further stressed the need for governments to require evidence of compliance with the Code of Conduct as a prerequisite for the payment of emoluments to public officers.
“The Code of Conduct Bureau no longer issues physical asset declaration forms as was previously done.
“We are now automating the entire system and moving online. By the third quarter of the year, we expect to be fully operational online.
“We are considering a framework where compliance with the Code of Conduct is tied to incentives within the public service.
“Evidence of compliance could become part of the documentation required before public officers begin to receive their emoluments from the state government,” Feyishola said.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Governor, His Excellency Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu; the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Meribeole; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Ph.D.; the Commissioner for Lands, Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije; and other senior government appointees.
