NESREA, UNODC Develop Code Of Conduct To Enhance Professionalism

National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), is crafting a code of conduct to guide staff behaviour.

During the review and validation workshop for the draft code of conduct held in Abuja on Monday, NESREA’s director-general, Dr. Innocent Barikor, emphasised the agency’s crucial role in environmental protection, which necessitates the adoption of standards and guidelines to govern staff actions.

In a press statement signed by Amaka Ejiofor, an assistant director at NESREA, Barikor was quoted as saying, “The Code of Conduct is being developed as part of the corruption risk assessment and mitigation for frontline wildlife and forest authorities in Nigeria. It aligns with the implementation of the strategic objectives of Article 5 of the National Strategy to Combat Wildlife and Forest Crimes in Nigeria 2022-2026.”

He further highlighted the importance of institutional qualities and strategies in fulfilling NESREA’s mandate. “The code of conduct will address issues of ethics and promote professionalism, mutual respect, and integrity while ensuring equity and instilling a sense of responsibility,” Barikor added.

A national programme officer at the UNODC’s Office on corruption risk mitigation, Francis Umendiego, commended NESREA for its initiative to instil a Code of Conduct on its staff, noting that it would bolster efforts to combat wildlife trafficking in Nigeria.

The development of the code was facilitated by Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa, an anti-corruption and ethics consultant, who urged NESREA staff to adhere to the code’s provisions to ensure maximum output and improved service delivery.

The collaborative effort between NESREA and UNODC underscores a commitment to enhancing staff integrity and professionalism, which is critical for effective environmental protection and combating wildlife crimes in Nigeria.