A call has gone to Public Office holders in Nigeria to always show commitment and match their words with actions when it comes to accountability and transparency in governance.
Chairman of the Ikale socio-cultural group, Ikale Heritage Development Association, Otunba Sola Olatunji gave the warning weekend while chatting with journalists in his office as he spoke on accountability and transparency in governance in Nigeria, insisting that public office holders must desist from using their positions or offices to impoverish or intimidate Nigerians
According to him, Political and Public Office holders have a responsibility to respond to requests by the citizens on issues of accountability and management of state resources, which is provided for in the Freedom Of Information Act in the country.
“In a civilized setting, public office holders are supposed to be the servants of the citizens but in Nigeria, what we see is that most public servants become terrors once they assume office,” Olatunji said adding: “Rather than use their offices for the promotion of humanity, they tend to see themselves as superman or superwoman.
“Public office is where you are expected to uphold standard human behavior but the reverse is mostly the case in Nigeria.”
Olatunji believes that the next government after the President Muhammadu Buhari regime will ensure that the country’s code of conduct for public office holders is followed to the letter and in accordance with the FOI Act.
