On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu sworn in Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello as the new Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) during a brief ceremony held before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The FEC meeting commenced with nearly all members present, except for a handful who are engaged in various national duties abroad.
Notably absent was Vice President Kashim Shettima, who is attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa. Other absent members include Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development; Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power; Professor Joseph Utsev, the Minister of Environment; and Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In remarks made to State House correspondents after his swearing-in, Bello reaffirmed his commitment to tackling corruption through the CCB, which stands as Nigeria’s primary anti-corruption agency.
He stressed the crucial need for integrity and accountability among public officials, vowing to adhere to the Bureau’s mission.
Bello expressed confidence that while corruption is a pervasive global challenge, effective systems can help mitigate its impact.
He assured that Nigeria possesses the requisite frameworks and institutions to combat corruption, emphasizing his focus on fulfilling the Bureau’s objectives to promote integrity and curb corrupt practices.
“I want to thank Mr. President for appointing me to this position. I am truly grateful, and I assure Mr. President and the people of Nigeria that I will strive to address this significant challenge ahead of me,” Bello stated.
He added, “As you noted, the Code of Conduct Bureau is the foremost anti-corruption agency, the first of its kind in Nigeria, and I intend to fulfill its mandates. It is crucial that public servants act with integrity, avoid corruption, and steer clear of conflicts of interest.”
Bello concluded with a promise to Nigerians, saying, “I commit to upholding integrity and accountability in my role. Insha Allah, I will do my utmost to deliver on the Bureau’s mandate.”
When asked about the challenges he might face, Bello remarked, “I always say that corruption can affect anyone, regardless of their location, whether in the UK or the US. What matters is the systems we establish to prevent it. If we strengthen the systems in Nigeria, we can address this issue effectively. I assure you, we have the necessary systems and institutions; we just need to execute our mandate, and everything will be fine.”
