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The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Dr Mainasara Umar Kogo, has expressed concern that many Nigerians occupying positions of authority appear unaware of their constitutional responsibilities, warning that the pursuit of personal interests continues to undermine national development.

Kogo made the remarks while discussing corruption, leadership and the challenges facing Nigeria’s public institutions.

He called for stronger institutional mechanisms, improved legal frameworks and a renewed commitment to patriotism, discipline and responsible public service.

According to him, public office should be regarded as a responsibility to serve citizens rather than an opportunity for personal enrichment.

He maintained that no public official was inherently more important than an ordinary Nigerian and stressed that public resources belonged to the people.

Kogo said that diverting even a single naira from public funds constituted a serious moral offence, emphasising the need for integrity among individuals entrusted with public responsibilities.

The CCT chairman expressed optimism that corruption could be addressed in Nigeria but argued that existing institutional structures and legal frameworks needed to be strengthened.

He also stressed the importance of ensuring that those responsible for adjudication and public administration demonstrated patriotism and discipline.

On the tribunal’s ability to prosecute politically exposed persons, Kogo explained that its current powers were limited by the existing legal framework.

He said the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) was responsible for investigating and prosecuting cases brought before the tribunal, while the Attorney-General also possessed constitutional prosecutorial powers.

He noted that the tribunal could not independently determine who should be prosecuted, as it was restricted to handling cases presented through established legal procedures.

Kogo disclosed that a proposed legislative reform was intended to address these limitations by allowing anti-corruption agencies to bring relevant cases before the tribunal, regardless of the status of the individuals involved.

He also proposed transforming the Code of Conduct Tribunal into a National Anti-Corruption Court with a broader mandate to handle corruption-related cases. Under the proposal, anti-graft agencies and civil society organisations would be able to prosecute relevant cases before the proposed court.

The proposal also includes establishing about seven judicial divisions and recruiting 37 additional judges to expedite the handling of corruption cases. Kogo said he had appealed to the Attorney-General of the Federation and the President to consider adopting the bill as an executive bill to facilitate its passage by the National Assembly.

He further identified issues such as certificate forgery, falsification of records, academic plagiarism, dual citizenship and foreign bank accounts as matters that could require legal scrutiny beyond asset declaration, subject to the applicable legal framework.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s governance challenges, Kogo expressed concern about the declining purchasing power of citizens and the difficulties many households face in meeting their basic needs. He said the country’s economic circumstances had weakened the ability of many Nigerians to afford essential goods and services.

He also lamented what he described as an erosion of nationalism, national cohesion and patriotism, arguing that individual interests were increasingly taking precedence over the collective welfare of the country.

According to him, Nigeria needs more statesmen who prioritise national development and the welfare of future generations rather than focusing primarily on acquiring political power and wealth.

Kogo called on the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to strengthen its role in promoting national unity, patriotism, responsible citizenship and public service.

He also discussed the challenges he encountered upon returning to the tribunal as chairman, describing an institution that had deteriorated considerably. He said the building lacked reliable electricity and water supplies, its lifts were not functioning, security was inadequate, and essential working materials were unavailable.

Kogo said he had taken steps to restore electricity, provide water through boreholes, improve security and commence renovations. He also highlighted staff development initiatives, the resolution of outstanding promotions and efforts to pay retirement entitlements to former employees.

According to him, approximately 70 to 80 per cent of affected retirees had received their entitlements, with some having waited as long as two decades for payment.

He added that new allowances and welfare measures had been introduced for staff, alongside a 13th-month salary bonus intended to boost morale and improve productivity.

However, Kogo said inadequate funding continued to constrain the tribunal’s operations. He disclosed that the institution received an average of between ?26 million and ?28 million in overhead funding, with releases sometimes delayed by two or three months. He also said he had not received any capital allocation since assuming office.

To address some of the resource challenges, he said he had approached international donor agencies and other institutions, which provided computers, laptops, printers, photocopiers and other equipment.

Kogo also disclosed efforts to recover properties allegedly disposed of by previous tribunal leaderships. He said a property in Wuse II, Abuja, had been recovered following the intervention of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, while another property in Bauchi, which had allegedly been converted into a commercial plaza, had also been recovered.

He said the tribunal was seeking funds to renovate the properties and restore them to official use.

Kogo maintained that his priority was to establish a functional institution capable of operating effectively beyond his tenure, adding that public officials should focus on fulfilling their responsibilities rather than pursuing personal recognition.

Nigerian industrialist and philanthropist, Dr Seinye O. B. Lulu-Briggs, has received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Best of Africa Awards in London in recognition of her contributions to business, philanthropy and humanitarian development spanning more than four decades.

The award was presented at the Best of Africa Awards Dinner held at The Peninsula Hotel, London, where personalities from across Africa and the diaspora gathered to celebrate leadership, enterprise and philanthropy under the theme, Unity.

Dr Lulu-Briggs, Executive Chairman of Moni Pulo Limited and Chairman and Founder of the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation, has combined business leadership with sustained efforts to improve the lives of underserved and vulnerable communities.

Established in 2011, the Best of Africa Awards celebrates Africans whose professional achievements have translated into contributions to society. Previous honourees include Mohamed Salah, Yaya Touré, Sir Mo Farah, Angélique Kidjo, Ozwald Boateng, Eniola Aluko and Luol Deng.

The 2026 edition brought together leaders from business, entertainment, sports and philanthropy, recognising Africans whose influence extends beyond personal success to community development.

Dr Lulu-Briggs’ selection for the Lifetime Achievement Award reflects her leadership across several sectors of the Nigerian economy and her philanthropic work across generations.

Her professional career began in 1981 at the Central Bank of Nigeria, where she was among the pioneer staff of its Computer Services Department. She later became Head of Computer Operations, at a time when relatively few Nigerian women held senior technical and management positions in the field.

She subsequently worked in commercial banking, technology, land and marine leasing, haulage, hospitality, manufacturing and energy, building a career spanning business development, institutional leadership and enterprise creation.

In the energy industry, Dr Lulu-Briggs has played a leadership role at Moni Pulo Limited, one of Nigeria’s pioneering indigenous oil and gas exploration and production companies.

Having served as Executive Vice Chairman from 2005, with responsibilities covering government relations, regulatory compliance and sustainability, she now serves as Executive Chairman, providing strategic direction for the company’s operations and long-term development.

Among her current priorities is an initiative to commercialise approximately one trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, with potential implications for domestic energy supply, industrial development and Nigeria’s wider energy sector.

Her career has demonstrated the role of indigenous enterprise in economic development and the capacity of African women to lead complex organisations and build businesses.

Beyond business, Dr Lulu-Briggs’ humanitarian work through the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation has remained central to her public service.

Established in September 2001 in honour of her late husband, High Chief Dr O. B. Lulu-Briggs, the Foundation initially focused on the welfare of neglected older persons. It has since expanded into healthcare, elder care, education, social welfare and community development.

In September 2026, the Foundation marked its 25th anniversary, celebrating interventions across Nigeria’s Niger Delta and other communities.

According to its anniversary records, the Foundation’s humanitarian programmes have reached an estimated 2.12 million people, with cumulative expenditure exceeding ?3.52 billion.

Healthcare remains one of its major areas of intervention. Through its Free Medical Mission programme, the organisation has provided medical services to more than 178,000 beneficiaries, including consultations, surgical procedures, dental treatment, eye care and other essential services.

The Foundation has also distributed more than 34,000 corrective eyeglasses to improve access to vision care.

Its 50th Free Medical Mission, held in September 2026 at Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, formed part of its silver jubilee celebrations, bringing medical professionals and volunteers together to provide free healthcare to underserved populations.

The Foundation’s Care for Life programme, established in 2001 to support older persons, has enrolled 781 elderly beneficiaries, providing food, healthcare assistance, companionship and other essential services.

The programme has also provided more than 191,000 weekday meals to address the nutritional and welfare needs of older people who may lack adequate support.

Dr Lulu-Briggs’ commitment to the dignity of older persons was further demonstrated in September 2026 when the Foundation, in collaboration with Peace Haven Foundation, convened the Dignity of Ageing Conference in Port Harcourt.

The conference brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss brain health, dementia, caregiving and the challenges associated with ageing in contemporary African societies. It also extended the Foundation’s work into public education, advocacy and efforts to improve elder care.

Under Dr Lulu-Briggs’ leadership, the Foundation has expanded its interventions into social justice, mediation and the protection of vulnerable women.

Its initiatives include a dedicated mediation facility and legal assistance for women facing abuse, dispossession and other forms of injustice.

The programmes reflect an approach to humanitarian service that addresses not only immediate needs but also poverty, exclusion and unequal access to justice.

Following the death of her husband, Dr Lulu-Briggs assumed greater responsibility for preserving and expanding the charitable legacy associated with his name.

Over the years, she has strengthened the Foundation’s institutional structure, broadened its programmes and sustained its humanitarian activities amid economic and social changes.

The organisation’s work has evolved from occasional charitable interventions into sustained programmes with measurable outcomes.

The 2026 Best of Africa Awards also recognised other Africans and people of African heritage for contributions spanning public service, business, sports, entertainment, philanthropy and social advocacy.

Among the recipients was Baroness June Sarpong, who received the Unity Award in recognition of her legacy of excellence and contributions. The award was presented by Kingsley Pungong.

CSR REPORTERS has unveiled the methodology for its Nigeria CSR Impact Ranking 2026, introducing an evidence-based framework to assess corporate social responsibility and sustainability performance across the country.

The platform said the framework would shift attention from publicity, spending and self-reported claims to measurable outcomes, verifiable evidence and accountability.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CSR REPORTERS, Eche Munonye, said the methodology was designed to answer a fundamental question: what can companies demonstrate about their social impact and sustainability performance?

He said the framework would help distinguish between activities organisations announce and the lasting changes they achieve.

The methodology establishes five assessment dimensions, with impact carrying the highest weighting at 30 per cent. Strategic Alignment and Measurement and Evaluation each account for 20 per cent, while Sustainability and Scale, and Transparency and Accountability, carry 15 per cent each.

The criteria assess the relevance of corporate initiatives, their measurable outcomes, alignment with organisational priorities, potential for long-term sustainability and the transparency of reported achievements.

The framework also introduces structured scoring, evidence classification, stakeholder validation and field verification where necessary. It provides quality assurance measures and safeguards against conflicts of interest.

A key feature is the Evidence Confidence Indicator, which assesses the strength of supporting evidence separately from an organisation’s numerical score.

According to CSR REPORTERS, this distinction recognises that completing a project does not automatically establish its lasting impact. For instance, building a school is a measurable output, but determining whether it remains functional and delivers sustained benefits requires additional evidence.

Munonye said the ranking’s credibility depended on making its assessment process transparent and independent.

‘If a ranking is going to influence how companies are perceived and discussed, people should be able to understand how it was produced,’ he said.

The organisation also stated that advertising, sponsorships, partnerships, consultancy engagements and participation in its events would neither guarantee inclusion nor influence ranking outcomes.

Designated Methodology Version 1.0, the framework draws on international assessment principles while reflecting Nigeria’s operating environment. It also outlines evidence requirements, limitations and procedures for corrections and future revisions.

CSR REPORTERS said the ranking would not constitute a comprehensive audit or imply that every reported outcome had been independently verified.

The inaugural edition will assess organisations within a defined 2026 assessment universe and publish the Top 50 sustainability and social impact performers.

The ranking is scheduled for unveiling in Lagos in November 2026 as part of the platform’s sustainability programme.

CSR REPORTERS said the initiative aims to support journalism, research, policy discussions and stakeholder engagement by encouraging companies to demonstrate their social impact through credible evidence rather than claims alone.

The President-elect of the Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA), Seyi Gambo, has said unity schools remain vital to Nigeria’s efforts to overcome ethnic and religious divisions.

He urged the country to harness its diversity for national development.

Gambo said the founding philosophy of the schools demonstrated how people from different backgrounds could coexist and contribute to national development.

He said Nigeria would achieve greater national cohesion if opportunities were determined by merit rather than ethnicity, religion or gender.

He spoke in a telephone interview with Daily Trust against the backdrop of ethnic and religious divisions in the country.

He argued that Nigeria could become a leading force in the international community if its citizens focused on their shared interests and strengths.

‘The philosophy behind the unity school is a testament to the fact that God loves Nigeria and Nigerians love Nigeria. Our diversity is an uncommon and strategic advantage in the community of nations,’ he said.

‘If we concentrate on or leverage our positive energy, we will be pivotal to a better world where comparative advantage, not ethnicity, religious affiliation or gender, will determine who gets what or the positions we attain. We will therefore set the agenda for the whole world. We have what it takes’, he added.

The USOSA president-elect maintained that unity schools had not abandoned their core mission of fostering national integration.

He described them as important centres for nurturing tolerance and accommodating differences.

He said former students of the institutions had continued to promote peaceful coexistence and acceptance of diverse views in different sectors of the country.

‘Yes, unity schools have not diverted from these ideals. We are still the incubators and melting pot for these critical national elements of socioeconomic development,’ he said.

Gambo, however, called for stronger collaboration among government, alumni associations, the private sector and other stakeholders to improve the quality and management of federal unity colleges.

He identified the School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs), established to bring different stakeholders into school administration, as an important mechanism that should be made more effective.

The committees comprise representatives of the education ministry, host communities, Parent-Teacher Associations, security agencies and alumni associations.

‘However, we have noticed that most of these SBMCs have not been alive to their responsibilities. We will ensure the SBMC delivers on its mandate,’ he said.

Gambo further urged governments to make education central to their policies and called on corporate organisations to increase investment in the sector.

‘There are a lot of things that will be pivotal to the development we desire for the education ecosystem. Education must be central to every government policy; the corporate sector must invest in it. It must be accessible to all Nigerians,’ he said.

On disparities in access to digital learning facilities, he said USOSA would sustain advocacy and engage relevant stakeholders to mobilise support for schools lacking adequate equipment.

He added that Nigerians in the diaspora would also be encouraged to contribute to efforts to narrow the gap between well-equipped schools and those with limited facilities.

‘It will be a concerted effort by all stakeholders. The advanced nations also have their challenges. We will continue in our advocacy on the same. We will engage critical stakeholders to achieve these. Nigerians at home and in the diaspora will all be mobilised to ensure this,’ he said.

Gambo emerged president-elect at USOSA’s 50th Plenary and elective Annual General Meeting held at the National Universities Commission in Abuja on October 24.

He defeated the incumbent Vice President-General, Chinedu Amure, by 93 votes.

He polled 305 votes against Amure’s 212, while six ballots were declared invalid in the presidential contest.

In the race for Vice President-General, Jayeola Adebola defeated Rufun Ibrahim Jauro with 287 votes to 233. Six ballots were invalid.

Favour Sabo Michael emerged Financial Secretary after polling 345 votes to defeat Semirat Ajide, who secured 173 votes.

Hamman Adil Adamu was elected Treasurer unopposed, while Idoreyen A. Ebong also emerged Secretary-General without opposition.

Kester Idogho won the Assistant Secretary-General position with 354 votes, defeating Hauwa Idi Jimeta, who polled 170. Two ballots were declared invalid in the contest.

The results were signed by the chairman and secretary of the Electoral Committee, Ahmed Tijjani Lawal and Tayelolu Ojo, respectively