Public office and accountability issues in Nigeria

Sometimes, people in the position of authority tend to get annoyed when citizens approach them or demand information about the resources or the office entrusted to them for the citizens. Some public officers hate to see the freedom of information requests in their offices, especially when it has to do with the accountability of public […]

Sometimes, people in the position of authority tend to get annoyed when citizens approach them or demand information about the resources or the office entrusted to them for the citizens. Some public officers hate to see the freedom of information requests in their offices, especially when it has to do with the accountability of public resources utilisations, or how they exercise the power and authority given to them. Some even ignored, neglected, failed, or refused to respond to the Freedom of Information (FOI) request issued to them because they feel not obligated to do so, which is a fragrant disobedient to the rule of laws.

It is important we get this message clear. Nobody has the right to investigate your private life if you are not working for or depending on the government’s money for daily survival. Public monies are people’s money, and people deserve the right to know how it’s being used. Public office holders should know that they are holding the office in trust for the people, and it is not their personal property or inheritance from their ancestors.

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It is a choice whether to remain in the private life or to come into the public office and start living on people’s expenses. Living a private life and taking care of personal expenses are decisions that many people have made over time, who do not want interference with their private lives.

Occupying public office and living on people’s money comes with a lot of responsibilities. Going into public office is a tradeoff of private life or secrecy to some extent, which many people occupying the public offices failed to understand. The scrutiny started even before they assume the office, by compulsory filling of the Asset Declaration Form by the Office of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). It is expected that they declare all that they have and worth, which is expected to be investigated and validated. It is a signal that they are no longer living a private life, and they ought to know and behave as such

It is part of the price they have to pay for the powers and authority they have and exercise, such that, they decide who gets what, when, and how. So, there must be checks and balances to ensure that absolute power does not corrupt absolutely.

Nigerian government officials should know this and remember the oath of office they took to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other relevant laws that govern their conduct, the office, and mode of operations. Accountability mechanisms are put in place to guide the conduct of the public officers, which also give powers to the citizens to hold the people in the position of authority accountable. Even the government envisages a situation where the occupants of public offices can be lorded over, and do as they wish, which may not be the will of the people. That is exactly what brought the issues of rules, guidelines, policies, code of conduct and enactment of some laws to checkmate their excesses.

The laws such as the Freedom of Information Act, Fiscal Responsibility Act, Public Procurement Act, 2007, and Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 1991, among others, are meant to provide checks and balances in the way public officials behave, operate, and how government businesses are being managed by the people entrusted to. The grand norm of all the laid down procedures is the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, upon which all other laws draw their powers, validity, and consistency. But it has been abused and disobeyed over time.

Thus, all government officials must subject themselves to the authority of these laws for effective and efficient management of the public resources that are entrusted to them for the people. It is pertinent to note that people have the right to ask and know how these resources are being managed on their behalf. Public officers should not be offended or get annoyed when citizens start asking relevant questions that concern the resources entrusted to them because the sovereignty belongs to the people. Public officials should be reminded that they are holding the office in the trust of the people because everybody cannot be there at the same time.

 

Omale Omachi Samuel, Special Duties Officer, Centre for Social Justice, Abuja