Always declare your assets, Egbewole urges UNILORIN staff

In his desire to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has called on all staff members of the institution to always ensure that they declare their assets in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Prof. Egbewole made this call last Tuesday (December 19, 2023)  at the Main Auditorium of the University while declaring open an interactive session between staff of the University and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) on how to complete the asset declaration form by the University staff..

The Vice Chancellor, who was represented on the occasion by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Suleiman Folorunsho Ambali, said the management allowed the interactive programme so as to create awareness about the importance of asset declaration among the University’s staff.

Prof. Egbewole said the programme was part of a routine initiative conducted every four years to ensure compliance with legal obligations outlined in the country’s constitution.

While urging the staff members to exemplify the “Better By Far” ethos of the institution by fulfilling their obligations as regard the declaration of their assets, the Vice Chancellor emphasised the University’s commitment to the principles of accountability and good governance.

He stressed that there is no excuse for non-compliance, particularly within the University community, adding, “We should be able to obey the law because we teach our students to obey the law”.

In her address, the Director of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in Kwara State, Dr Sherifat Yusuf, said that the programme was aimed at ensuring total compliance with constitutional obligations.

While underscoring the critical role of the CCB as an anti-corruption agency responsible for maintaining checks and balances on public office holders, the CCB Director outlined the Bureau’s mandate to enforce a set of 14 rules that every civil servant must adhere to in order to uphold integrity in public service.

In his remarks, the Registrar of the University of Ilorin, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla, expressed the hope that the University staff had been duly informed about the importance, procedures and requirements of fulfilling their constitutional obligations.

The Registrar said that the sensitisation programme was designed to ensure that all staff members of the most sought-after University are well-informed about the significance of asset declaration, the procedural steps involved, and the requirements outlined in the constitution. He noted that it is crucial for every staff member to understand and fulfill these constitutional obligations.

He further emphasised the need for staff members to embrace the principles of transparency and accountability, aligning their actions with the University’s commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards.

In his presentation, the Deputy Director of CCB in Kwara State,, Mr Segun highlighted the 14 codes as contained in Schedule 5 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He also stressed the significance of compliance with these codes to ensure effective and responsible governance.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), University of Ilorin Chapter, Comrade Naheem Falowo, has called for a reconsideration of the Code of Conduct that prohibits civil servants from engaging in any business aside farming.

Comrade Falowo made the call in his remarks at the event as he stressed  the urgency of amending the code, particularly in the light of the current economic climate in Nigeria. He mentioned the economic challenges faced by civil servants, citing the inadequacy of the N30,000 minimum wage to meet their basic needs.

The SSANU Chairman argued that allowing civil servants to own businesses outside their official duties could serve as a viable solution to the financial hardships experienced by many in the public sector. He stressed the importance of revisiting the code to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for civil servants grappling with rising living costs.