- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has harped on the need for robust partnership with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in an effort to promote transparency, ethical governance, and accountability in public office.
This was made known by the NBA President, Afam Osigwe, in a post on his X handle on Monday.
Osigwe disclosed hosting the CCB Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Bello, and his team at the NBA House on Friday.
While Bello, according to the statement, emphasized the need for partnership between both organizations, Osigwe acknowledged CCB’s role in combating corruption, reaffirming NBA’s commitment to upholding accountability in governance.
The NBA boss sought strong collaboration to improve legal and structural frameworks, ensuring a more effective asset declaration process which he claimed to have not fully achieved its purpose.
“On February 14, 2025, I had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), and his team at the NBA House. This visit marked a significant step towards strengthening our collaboration with the CCB to promote transparency, ethical governance, and accountability in public office.
“Dr. Bello emphasized the need for a robust partnership between our organizations, particularly in areas such as case assistance, capacity building, judicial enlightenment, and enforcing ethical standards. He also sought our support for key reforms, including the whistleblower policy and a bill currently before the National Assembly.
“I acknowledged the crucial role the CCB plays in combating corruption and reaffirmed the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) commitment to upholding accountability in governance.
“However, I expressed concerns about the current asset declaration system, which, despite its potential as an anti-corruption tool, has not fully achieved its purpose.
“To address this, I stressed the importance of public office holders making truthful and verifiable declarations of assets. I also underscored the need to strengthen the CCB’s enforcement mechanisms. As an association, we remain committed to supporting reforms that enhance transparency and public trust in governance.
“The NBA @NigBarAssoc looks forward to collaborating with the CCB to improve legal and structural frameworks, ensuring a more effective asset declaration process. I appreciate Dr. Bello and his team for their visit and look forward to working together towards a stronger, more accountable public sector.” Osigwe wrote.