Shettima Urges CCB to Stay Apolitical and Act with Integrity

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima instructed the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to remain apolitical and uphold strict independence so it can operate with integrity, transparency, and accountability.

He further urged the bureau to continue its digitisation efforts, establishing a system that lets public officers declare assets and liabilities electronically from any location, thereby removing the delays and inefficiencies of paper forms and aligning with practices in foreign jurisdictions.

Shettima delivered the message yesterday during a visit by a CCB delegation headed by Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello at the State House in Abuja.

The Vice President congratulated Bello and his team on taking office, while warning them to avoid becoming entangled in any controversy.

He told the delegation, “Remain steadfast. Be as apolitical as humanly possible and do your job as much as you can.” He also acknowledged the bureau’s ongoing digitisation work and noted that the world is evolving, requiring the bureau to keep pace.

Shettima urged the chairman to pursue digitisation, emphasizing that the bureau plays a crucial role in promoting and projecting a positive image for Nigeria.

He added, “There is no need for public officials to crowd your offices filling out forms. With digitisation, you can hold them accountable. You expect everyone to play by the rules.”

Earlier, Bello thanked President Bola Tinubu and the Vice President for appointing a new team to lead the CCB and for boosting its budget, noting that the bureau has undergone several reforms, including digitisation of its processes.

He said the bureau has intensified verification, investigation, and prosecution, resulting in multiple recoveries both within Nigeria and abroad, including in London.

The CCB head assured that, with sufficient empowerment and support from the federal government, the bureau will continue to sustain the anti‑corruption effort for the country’s betterment.