President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially sworn in Dr Abdullahi Bello Usman as the new Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). The swearing-in took place during a brief ceremony that preceded the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by the President. During the ceremony, Bello expressed his commitment to leading Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption agency, the CCB, by focusing on integrity and accountability among public servants.
He acknowledged the global nature of corruption but emphasised the importance of strong systems and institutions in tackling the issue in Nigeria.
“I want to thank Mr President for appointing me to this position. I am truly grateful and assure both Mr President and the people of Nigeria that I will do my best to take on this huge task ahead of me,” Bello stated. He underscored the Bureau’s role in ensuring public servants avoid corruption and conflicts of interest, adding, “It’s all about integrity, accountability, and delivering on the Bureau’s mandate.”
When asked about the challenges ahead, Bello emphasised the importance of effective systems in curbing corruption: “It doesn’t matter where you are in the world—everyone has the potential to be corrupt. “What matters most are the systems in place to check it. We have the systems and institutions in Nigeria, and if we deliver on our mandate, we can address the problem effectively.” The FEC meeting, which followed the ceremony, saw almost full attendance, with a few members absent due to national assignments.
Vice President Kashim Shettima was attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa, while other ministers, including Wale Edun (Finance), Yusuf Tuggar (Foreign Affairs), Festus Keyamo (Aviation), and Nyesom Wike (FCT), were also absent.
