The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has completed the verification of asset declaration submitted by 19 ministers, 37 permanent secretaries, 20 heads of government agencies and 32 other senior public officials.

This verification is part of a renewed effort to strengthen integrity checks within the Federal Public Service.

The Bureau also disclosed that its long-awaited Online Asset and Liabilities Declaration System has been fully developed and is now ready for deployment and testing, marking a shift towards digitised disclosure management across public institutions.

The Chairman of the CCB, Dr Abdullahi Usman Bello, revealed this yesterday in Abuja during the close-out ceremony of Agora Policy’s Policy Writing Fellowship and the unveiling of the Local Governance Accountability Portal.

Bello said the verification exercise targeted high-risk categories of public officers and formed part of the Bureau’s broader strategy to strengthen compliance with asset declaration requirements and improve accountability in public office.

He said the digital system, once deployed, would serve as the central repository for asset and liability declarations by public servants nationwide, while also improving record management and access efficiency.

According to him, the platform has been designed to enhance transparency in the disclosure process without compromising the privacy and security of declarants.

The CCB chairman said the Bureau was also open to partnerships that would improve responsible public access to governance data while safeguarding sensitive information.

Beyond the verification exercise, Bello said the Bureau had intensified enforcement actions, including the forfeiture of several assets, among them a property in London, as part of ongoing anti-corruption proceedings.

He also disclosed that multiple cases had been referred to the Code of Conduct Tribunal, adding that enforcement efforts were being sustained across different tiers of public service.

In a further indication of stepped-up prosecution, Bello said the Bureau had, on Wednesday, arraigned a chief of staff to a state governor before the tribunal, describing it as part of efforts to ensure accountability irrespective of political or official status.

He said the actions underscored the Bureau’s resolve to enforce compliance with ethical standards in public service and deter breaches of the code of conduct framework.

He commended Agora Policy, graduating 22 fellows from its Policy Writing Fellowship.

The Policy also unveiled a digital portal aimed at improving transparency in local government administration.

Bello commended the initiative, describing the LGA accountability platform as a significant tool for citizens, journalists and researchers seeking to track public resources and evaluate service delivery at the grassroots level.

He said strengthening accountability at the local level remained essential to broader anti-corruption efforts and sustainable national development.