Anti-Graft War Shifts To Prevention As FG Pushes Public Awareness Drive
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight is taking a new turn, one that prioritises prevention over punishment.
The Federal Government says public enlightenment will now sit at the heart of efforts to enforce accountability, as the Code of Conduct Bureau seeks to deepen its collaboration with the Ministry of Information.
Speaking during a high-level meeting in Abuja, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said many public servants still lack a clear understanding of the bureau’s mandate beyond asset declaration, a gap he insists must be urgently addressed.
“The Code of Conduct Bureau is not about arresting people after offences are committed; its primary duty is to prevent those infractions,” he said.
Earlier, the Bureau’s Chairman, Abdullahi Usman Bello, disclosed that the agency recently secured the forfeiture of assets in London, even as he acknowledged low public awareness of its achievements.
Bello stressed that the agency is shifting its focus toward compliance, education, and capacity building for civil servants, aimed at preventing corruption before it occurs.
He called for stronger media partnerships and nationwide sensitisation campaigns to drive ethical conduct in public service, noting that collaboration with the Information Ministry would significantly boost transparency and accountability.
Observers say the renewed emphasis on awareness could mark a critical shift in Nigeria’s anti-graft strategy, one that targets the roots of corruption rather than just its consequences.
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