Ise-Oluwa Ige
11 November 2009
Abuja — President Umaru Yar'Adua yesterday promised that he would neither shield nor protect any public official who runs foul of the law or breaches the Code of Conduct for public officers.
He spoke on a day the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Justice Constance Momoh called for abrogation of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution shielding 74 political office holders from prosecution while holding office.
The President spoke at the commissioning of the N464, 294,668.90 worth Code of Conduct Tribunal Headquarters/Court Complex in Abuja.
Represented by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Senator Adamu Aliero, the president assured that his government will do all it takes to entrench probity, integrity, transparency and accountability in the conduct of government business.
"I do reiterate before the entire nation on this day, that my administration will neither shield nor protect any public official who falls foul of the law or breaches the code of conduct for public officers".
Yar'Adua expressed his unyielding commitment to zero tolerance for corruption as a cardinal principle of governance for socio economic development and effective national regeneration that cannot be attained with corrupted and contaminated governance and political process. He assured the CCT of Federal Government's support as it strives to entrench probity, transparency and accountability of office holders.
In her welcome address, the CCT Chairman, Justice Constance Momoh lamented that the immunity clause provided for certain public officers by Section 308 of the 1999 is a great hindrance to the tribunal.
While appealing to courts to "have a re-think on the thorny issue of granting indiscriminate injunctions against the tribunal", she flayed a situation where some public officers are charged simultaneously before the tribunal and the high court over same matter.
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well, can our president talk the talk and walk the walk. We look to you for transparency for others to follow.1st let fed,state and local govts pay those employees all their past due salary. If people get paid on time there will be no need for bribery. Look at Ghana and their worthy govt system. PLEASE HELP OUR COUNTRY GROW AND MAY THE LORD GIVE YOU AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION THE W ISDOM AND FORTITUDE TO DO THE RIGHT THING AMEN.
Mr. President Nigerians have heard this type of comments trillion times in the past and have waited for you to make good on your promises. Mr. president you do not have to look far to find corrupt government officials, they're among your cabinet members. What about corrupt Governors in your party of which Mr. president you control such as Ibori, your Attorney General Mr.Michael to mention but few, they 're your political friends and appointees. What effort did you make to set the former Inspector General of Police straight when he misused his power to borrow millions of money from perhaps one of the failed Banks with no collateral to build mansons for himself? With all due respect Mr. President Nigerians are frustrated by your inactive with many important issues in their lifes that they expect you to be involved with obviously, you do not care so much may be thats why you;re a politician and not a leader you are elected to be. However, all is not lost as Nigerians look forward seeing you lead at least for once in your presidency. Hopefully you're now tied of sheilding corrupt officials and you want to keep it clean ; this we will all appreciate Mr. president. In conclusion Mr. President , go get them.Long live Nigeria.
Mr president, TALK IS CHEAP. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DENT CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA? YOU CANNOT DO IT. PROVE ME WRONG, MR PRESIDENT, PROVE ME WRONG.
II already made myc omments. Thanks.