Dr Peter Mbah, the newly elected governor of Enugu State, stated on Friday that asset declaration by public servants is critical in promoting transparency and accountability in governance.
Mbah spoke after submitting his asset declaration forms to the CCB’s South East Zonal Office in Enugu on Friday.
He stated that the exercise is mandatory because every public officer is required by law to do so.
Mr Benedict Umeano, Federal Commissioner in charge of the CCB’s South East Zone, received the forms from the Governor-Elect.
Mbah said: “As the Chief Executive, we are meant to uphold the law.
“It is also incumbent on us to act lawfully, and what we have simply done here today is in line with the new direction of my career.
“As you also know, I am now migrating from the corporate environment to the public sector and in the private sector, we have Codes of Corporate Governance and here in the public sector, we also have the Code of Conduct for the public servants.”
He stated that by filling the forms, he had complied with the requirements of the law, adding that the process was quite seamless.
“We have populated the forms, and we have also, in the presence of a Notary Public, executed the law as required and my administration shall be upholding these requirements for all public officers.
“It is mandatory and it’s not an option. As public servants, we are not left with any option, but to fill our CCB forms. We must abide by the provisions of the law,” Mbah said.
Earlier, the CCB Federal Commissioner, Umeano, commended Mbah for leading by example by declaring his assets without delay.
“By the grace of God, by Monday, he (Mbah) will be the chief law officer of the state and by this submission, he has shown that he is going to lead by example.
“He has given a good example to the rest of the other politicians and even those who are going to be his functionaries that they have to comply with the rule of law,” he said.