The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has explained why Nigerian law forbids public servants from combining government work with private business and from operating foreign bank accounts.
The explanation was given by the CCB Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Bello, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja. He said public service is a sacred trust that must not be compromised by personal interests.
Bello said when a civil servant runs a business alongside official duties, questions naturally arise about commitment and integrity. “When a civil servant runs a business alongside official duties, questions naturally arise about commitment and integrity,” he said. “Are you spending your time doing your work? Or are you spending your time conducting private business?”
He explained that being a director in a company, operating a business account, or serving as a signatory to such an account clearly shows business involvement and constitutes a breach of the Code of Conduct.
The CCB Chairman also warned that public servants are prohibited from operating foreign bank accounts. He said the restriction is necessary because some public officers steal public funds and move the money abroad. “One of the reasons why we have that is that, some public servants will steal money from the government and then take it abroad,” Bello said. “We have seen so many cases of public servants stashing money away.”
He added that any public servant with a foreign bank account is expected to close it and stop operating it until after leaving public service.
Beyond business activities, Bello raised concern about the growing abuse of gift-giving involving public servants. He warned that gifts from government contractors are strictly prohibited, as they can influence decisions and compromise fairness in public service.
Bello also explained that certain categories of public servants, including the president, vice president, governors, justices, and judges, face restrictions even after leaving office. He said such officials are not allowed to work for foreign governments after their tenure because of the sensitive information they handled while in office.
“You are not allowed to work for any foreign government because you hold certain vital information,” he said. “If you are working for a foreign organisation or foreign institutions, that might compromise the security and the interests of Nigeria.”
The CCB Chairman further raised concern about the misuse of loans as a cover for bribery. He said the law restricts certain categories of public servants to borrowing only from recognised financial institutions where transactions can be verified and traced.
Bello also highlighted the growing use of agents and nominees to bypass anti-corruption rules. He said officials sometimes use spouses, children, relatives, or close friends to carry out illegal acts on their behalf. “These agents may include spouses, children, relatives, or close friends, but the official remains culpable once it is established that they are the ultimate beneficiary of the illicit act,” he said.
Additionally, Bello noted that public servants are restricted from belonging to certain organisations. He said membership of secret cults or groups whose activities conflict with the dignity, transparency, or integrity of public office is prohibited. “Such affiliations can tarnish the image of the public service and constitute another violation of the Code of Conduct,” he said.
On public awareness, Bello said the CCB has a designated department for sensitisation, although it is constrained by limited funding. He said whenever he is invited to public functions, he uses the opportunity to speak about the bureau’s operations.
He added that the bureau encourages MDAs to organise sensitisation programmes for their staff and is also partnering with heads of service across states to enlighten workers. Bello reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to enforcing ethical standards in public service to promote transparency, accountability, and public trust.
