By Chibuzor Alli
The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) says it will continue to promote ethical conduct among its employees as part of efforts to strengthen discipline, integrity and accountability in the public service.
The council’s Director-General, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, made the commitment at a one-day sensitisation workshop on the Code of Ethics and Conduct in Public Service held in Abuja on Thursday.
The event was organised for NADDC staff by the council’s Reform Coordination/SERVICOM Unit in partnership with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR).
Osanipin, who was represented by the Director of Vehicle Electrification, NADDC, Mr Ayinde Abdullahi, said public office was a position of trust and should not be used for personal gain.
He said the effectiveness and credibility of public institutions depended on the discipline and integrity of their personnel.
The director-general added that the council’s mandate required not only technical expertise but also responsible conduct by its workforce.
In a statement issued by the NADDC and obtained by PUNCH Online, the DG said, “The public Service remains a critical instrument for the implementation of Governmental policies and programmes and the delivery of services to the citizens. As officers entrusted with public responsibilities, we are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct and ensure that our actions and decisions are guided by the principles of integrity, transparency, impartiality, accountability and service to the public.
“The importance of this sensitisation programme therefore cannot be overemphasised. The Code of Ethics and Conduct is not merely a set of rules and regulations; it provides an important framework for guiding our behaviour, decisions and interactions in the course of our duties. It reminds us that public office is a position of trust and responsibility, and must never be used for personal advantage.”
NADDC urges staff to uphold public service standards
Osanipin urged employees to apply the principles discussed at the workshop to their everyday duties, stressing that maintaining ethical standards was a responsibility shared by all staff rather than management alone.
He said, “This sensitisation programme is therefore relevant because they provide an opportunity for us to refresh our understanding of the applicable rules and standards, examine our responsibilities as a public servant, and collectively strengthen our commitment to doing the right thing, even when it may not be the easiest thing to do.”
The NADDC boss identified integrity and accountability, professionalism, impartiality and fairness, and the avoidance of conflicts of interest as key principles that should guide employees.
He said, “We must remain honest, transparent and accountable in performance of our duties and in management of public resources.
“We must discharge our responsibilities competently and diligently.
“We must treat Colleagues, Stakeholders and members of the public fairly and without favour, discrimination or undue influence.
“We must equally ensure that personal interests do not interfere with the objective performance of our official duties.”
He added, “Ethical Conduct is not the responsibility of Management alone. It is a collective responsibility. Every officer, regardless of rank or designation, has a role to play in protecting the integrity and reputation of NADDC.”
Ethics linked to automotive industry development
Osanipin said the council’s focus on ethical conduct was important to the delivery of its mandate to develop and promote a globally competitive automotive industry through a competent and reliable workforce.
He thanked the CCB and BPSR for their partnership and support towards improving accountability within the public service.
In a goodwill message, the Chairman of the CCB, Dr Abdullahi Bello, represented by the Director of Special Duties, Mr Akinfolarin Feyisola, urged public servants to comply with the code of conduct to avoid sanctions.
Bello commended the NADDC for holding the workshop and said the bureau would continue working with relevant government agencies to promote compliance with ethical standards.
The Director-General of the BPSR, Dr Ibrahim Arabi, also identified ethics, accountability and professional conduct as important elements of institutional excellence during a paper presentation at the workshop.
He said the bureau had introduced reforms designed to build a responsible, transparent and productive public service.
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