Tunji-Ojo: Ignorance, Not Malice, Behind Violations of Conduct Laws

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has called on the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to prioritise public enlightenment on the code of conduct for civil and public servants.

During a courtesy visit from CCB’s Acting Chairman, Murtala Kankia, Tunji-Ojo highlighted that many violations stem from a lack of understanding of the regulations.

Tunji-Ojo emphasised, “A lot of people… run afoul of the code of conduct law out of ignorance.”

He stressed the need for an intensified campaign to educate public servants about asset declaration laws, insisting that many civil servants are unaware of the law’s specifics.

“The law does not say civil servants or public servants should not own a business but that they cannot run a business,” he clarified.

The minister also linked ignorance of the law to the struggles civil servants face after retirement.

He stated, “Strict adherence to the code of conduct is what integrity is all about,” emphasising that the Ministry and the CCB share a common goal of ensuring citizenship integrity.

Tunji-Ojo noted that the Ministry is performing well in terms of compliance but vowed to improve standards further.

“People should not approach the law from the angle of fear but from the angle of respect,” he said, advocating for a culture where public servants understand their rights and responsibilities.

In response, Kankia praised Tunji-Ojo for his contributions to improving security and service delivery within the Ministry and requested collaboration on educating paramilitary agencies about asset declaration laws.