The State Director, FCT CCB, Suleiman Usman, said unknown to
many civil servants, pursuing private business during official hours is an
offence that is punishable under the law.
Usman issued the warning on Thursday at a one-day
enlightenment campaign in Abuja.
“We are here to enlighten the civil servants of the FCT
Administration on the importance of asset declaration and ensure that we have
total compliance. We also enlightened them on the code of conduct of public
officers so that they will know their dos and don’ts alongside their
responsibilities.
“The Bureau has a committee that investigates and takes the
necessary measure, which is why we specified that civil servants must not
engage in direct managing of private business, if they want to carry out private
businesses,” he said.
Usman charged the workers to ensure timely and accurate
declaration of their assets for transparency and accountability purposes,
noting that government offices are held in trust on behalf of the citizens.
According to Usman,
many public servants are still ignorant of some of the relevant
information and practices expected of them, which is why they unknowingly end
up normalising illegalities within the system.
He also frowned upon the practice where public servants use
office hours to engage in private businesses, warning that the bureau will take
necessary measures against any civil servant who is petitioned, investigated by
the Bureau’s committee and found guilty of using official hours for private
businesses.
Also speaking at the event, the acting Director, Reform
Coordination and Service Improvement, FCTA, Dr Jummai Ahmadu, said the
enlightenment campaign was a routine activity of the bureau across the country
to refresh the minds of civil servants on asset declaration.