1 week Ago By Shojobi Abisola
Eze Onyekpere (Esq), the Executive Director, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), says the centre is partnering other development partners to develop learning and everyday use of materials for public officers in the operations of the new Online Assets Declaration System (OADS) and build capacity across Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at both the federal and state levels; Onyekpere stated this in an address at the Rule of Law And Anti-Corruption (ROLAC 2), titled, “Improving The Effectiveness Of Anti-Corruption Processes And Reforms Capacity Building Workshop On On-line Assets Declaration System” Organized by Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in Collaboration with Centre For Social Justice (CSJ). While enumerating the objectives of the workshop, Onyekpere pointed out that the CSJ envisions a Nigeria where social justice informs public decision-making and guarantees respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for everyone. CSJ executive director who also disclosed that Edo, Anambra, Lagos, Plateau, Adamawa, Kano States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been chosen as the focal states for the training, added that for CSJ, the benefits that will accrue from this workshop are legion in consideration of our vision and mission.
According to him, the practical benefits expected to accrue from the OADS include ease of compliance for declarants, no need for collection of forms, going before judge, etc., “We envision a Nigeria where social justice informs public decision-making and guarantees respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. “The mission is to be a principal catalyst in mainstreaming social justice in public life through policy engagements and interventions that bring about economic, political and Social reforms, rights enhancement and sustainable livelihoods.
“The vision and mission cannot be realized in a social milieu of pervasive corruption where an ethics in governance regime is not mainstreamed. “The ease of managing the process for the Bureau is doing away with the analogue and undue paper work; and quality control. “With a digitized system and relevant software, red flags and control issues will be easier and automatically raised, improving the verification process and interagency collaboration.
He also stated that with databases available on Bank Verification Number, National Identification Number, Land Registry, Drivers’ License, etc; facilitating the realisation of core objectives of the assets declaration system, more public officers will be able to declare their assets. “The online declaration will also reduce the cost of running the assets and liabilities declaration system for both the declarant and the Bureau; and improving transparency” the CSJ boss declared. In a good will message, the Executive Director of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice ANEEJ, Rev.
David Ugolor called for the collaboration of all the stakeholders in the anti-corruption struggle to ensure compliance to Assets Declaration as prescribed by law. Representatives of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the media are participating in the two-day workshop..
