Tinubu Approves Massive Boost to CCB Budget, Raising It to N20 Billion

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a substantial increase in the budget of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), raising its allocation from approximately N3 billion to nearly N20 billion, a move aimed at strengthening the agency’s capacity to enforce ethical standards in public service.

The announcement was made on Friday by the CCB Chairman, Dr. Abubakar Bello, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. According to Bello, the increase reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing the bureau’s operational efficiency, expanding its monitoring and investigative functions, and ensuring greater accountability among public officeholders.

Dr. Bello noted that the budgetary boost would enable the CCB to upgrade its technological infrastructure, improve staff welfare, and expand training programmes for personnel involved in monitoring, investigation, and enforcement of the Code of Conduct Act. “This is a significant development that will strengthen our ability to detect, prevent, and sanction ethical breaches in public office,” he said.

The chairman highlighted that the additional resources would also support the bureau’s efforts in managing declarations of assets by public officials, reviewing compliance across all levels of government, and coordinating with other anti-corruption and oversight agencies.

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Speaking on the importance of the increase, Bello stressed that robust funding is critical for the CCB to fulfil its constitutional mandate effectively. “With this level of support, we can improve our investigative reach, employ advanced verification systems, and ensure that ethical standards are upheld consistently across the public sector,” he added.

The CCB, established to enforce the Code of Conduct Act, has historically faced challenges due to limited funding and logistical constraints. The budget hike is expected to empower the agency to operate more proactively, reducing incidences of corruption and enhancing transparency in governance.

Observers have described the approval as a strong signal from the Tinubu administration about its prioritisation of integrity and accountability in public service. They noted that increased funding could translate into more thorough monitoring of public officials, timely investigations, and effective prosecution of violations.

Dr. Bello assured Nigerians that the bureau would utilise the funds judiciously, maintaining transparency in expenditure while focusing on the strategic objectives of promoting ethical governance and public confidence in the integrity of government institutions.

The enhanced budget comes at a time when public demand for accountability and transparency has intensified, with citizens and civil society groups calling for stricter enforcement of asset declaration requirements and tougher sanctions for ethical violations.

With the new allocation, the CCB is expected to embark on a series of reforms, including digitisation of asset declarations, expansion of investigative units, and enhanced collaboration with law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies, marking a significant step toward strengthening ethical governance in Nigeria.