BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU
Staff of Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC have been enjoined to promote probity and accountability in their daily assignments.
Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku who gave the advice during enlightenment session on Good Governance and Ethical Conduct, in conjunction with Code of Conduct Bureau in Port Harcourt Rivers State, asserted that without ethical conduct, it would be difficult to achieve good governance.
The MD insisted that the ethics of the commission would also reflect on the quality of projects executed by the commission.
Dr. Ogbuku stated that the programme was in conjunction with code of conduct Bureau to educate staff on what is expected of them on compliance to avoid being penalized for going astray.
According to the MD, NDDC ranks among the best performing Federal Government Agencies at present.
In a keynote address, Chairman Code of Conduct Bureau, Dr. Abdullahi Bello who described Code of conduct as a moral compass that would guide a public servant, stated that compliance to the code of conduct would assist a public servant gain public trust.
While describing assets declaration as mandatory, Dr. Bello enjoined public servants to follow laid down policies.
He noted that Niger Delta was in need of public servants who are determined to serve the public transparently.
The CCB Chairman stated that code of conduct helps to build institutions that function adequately and protects agencies from image damage.
He explained that assets from unverifiable sources would be taken over by the Government.
According to him, there is no prerogative of mercy, not even by the president if convicted by CCB; however, the individual can appeal in appeal court.
On his part, Director Admin and Human Resources, Mr. Kelechi Nwelue who reminded participants that civil servants were expected to declare their assets every four years, noted that every staff should be of good conduct.
