The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has explained why Nigerian public servants are legally prohibited from running private businesses alongside government jobs or operating foreign bank accounts, stating that the restrictions are designed to safeguard integrity and prevent corruption in public service.
The Chairman of the CCB, Dr. Abubakar Bello, gave the explanation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, stressing that public service is a “sacred trust” that must not be compromised.
Explaining how the law works and why it matters, Dr. Bello said the restrictions are intended to ensure that public officers remain fully committed to their official duties and do not use their positions for personal gain. He warned that violations undermine public confidence and expose the country to corruption and security risks.
On the prohibition against combining public service with private business, Dr. Bello said serious concerns arise when a civil servant runs a business while holding public office. “Are you spending your time doing your work, or are you spending your time conducting private business?” he asked. He added that being a director in a company, operating a business account, or serving as a signatory to such an account clearly indicates business involvement and constitutes a breach of the Code of Conduct.
Addressing the issue of foreign bank accounts, the CCB chairman said public servants are barred from operating them because some officials divert public funds and transfer the money abroad. “We have seen so many cases of public servants stashing money away,” he said. According to him, any public servant who has a foreign account is expected to close it and stop operating it until after leaving public service.
Dr. Bello also raised concerns about the abuse of gift-giving, warning that public servants are not permitted to receive gifts from government contractors. He said such gifts can easily become channels for bribery and undue influence.
He further noted that some categories of public officers, including the President, Vice President, governors, judges, and justices, are restricted from taking up certain jobs after leaving office. “You are not allowed to work for any foreign government because you hold certain vital information,” he said, adding that such engagements could compromise Nigeria’s security and national interest.
The CCB chairman also cautioned against the misuse of loans as a cover for bribery. He said the law allows some public servants to borrow only from recognised financial institutions, where transactions can be properly verified, in order to prevent fictitious loan arrangements used to disguise corrupt payments.
Dr. Bello spoke as well against the use of agents and nominees to circumvent anti-corruption rules. He said spouses, children, relatives, or close friends are sometimes used to conceal illicit benefits, but stressed that the public officer remains culpable once it is established that they are the true beneficiary. “The official remains culpable once it is established that they are the ultimate beneficiary of the illicit act,” he said.
In addition, he said public servants are restricted from belonging to secret cults or organisations whose activities conflict with the dignity and integrity of public office. Such affiliations, he noted, can damage the image of the public service and violate the Code of Conduct.
On public awareness, Dr. Bello said the bureau has a department responsible for sensitisation, although its efforts are constrained by funding. He said he uses public events to educate citizens about the role of the CCB and is encouraging ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to organise sensitisation programmesfor their staff.
He added that the bureau is also partnering with heads of service across the states to enlighten workers, reaffirming the CCB’s commitment to enforcing ethical standards in public service in order to promote transparency, accountability, and public trust.
