On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu officially swore in Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello as the new Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB)
The ceremony, which took place before the start of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, was held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Nearly all council members were in attendance, except for a few, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, who is representing Nigeria at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.
Also absent were key ministers, such as Wale Edun (Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy), Yusuf Tuggar (Foreign Affairs), Festus Keyamo (Aviation and Aerospace Development), Adebayo Adelabu (Power), Professor Joseph Utsev (Environment), and Nyesom Wike (Federal Capital Territory).
Following his swearing-in, Dr. Bello addressed the media, reaffirming his commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring public accountability. As Nigeria’s first anti-corruption agency, the CCB has the critical mandate of promoting integrity among public servants, a responsibility that Bello said he intends to uphold.
In his remarks, the new chairman acknowledged the global nature of corruption but emphasized that Nigeria possesses the necessary systems and institutions to combat it. “Corruption exists everywhere, but with effective systems in place, it can be mitigated,” Bello stated, stressing the importance of accountability, integrity, and eliminating conflicts of interest within public service.
He expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the appointment, stating: “I want to assure Mr. President and the people of Nigeria that I will do my best to tackle this monumental task ahead of me.”
When asked about the primary challenges Nigeria faces in terms of public conduct, Bello highlighted the need for effective systems. “It’s not about individuals—anyone can be corrupt. The key is having strong systems in place to prevent it. I believe Nigeria has those systems, and if we deliver on our mandate, we can make significant progress.”
Bello’s leadership of the CCB is expected to strengthen the country’s ongoing fight against corruption, with an emphasis on fostering integrity and accountability in public administration.
