Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria, ICSAN, has recommended that enabling laws establishing government agencies, Ministries, Departments, Agencies should make it mandatory for the appointment of a Secretary.

This the Institute believes should be similar to the requirements in the private sector in accordance to the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance 2018; with clear provisions on:

a) Qualifications-including membership of ICSAN

b) Experience

c) Rigorous process of appointment similar to the members of Council/Board

d) Adequately equipped to provide independent advice to the Council/Board

e) Stating his/her duties and Functional reporting roles to the Council /Board and Administrative reporting roles to the CEO

f) Providing for the process for his removal and circumstances for such, and instances when the approval of the government / appointing authority must be obtained before such removal and disciplinary action

g) Such Secretary in the public sector should be required to perform the duties of compliance officer and charged with the responsibility of advising the Council / Board on issues relating to ethics, conflict of interest, governance, best practices, etc.

According to ICSAN, the requirement for the appointment of a Secretary with the above criteria by each public interest entity, who is also responsible for compliance and well empowered to discharge his / her duties as stated in the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance 2018 and other codes earlier issued, are some the reasons for the stability and adoption of best governance practices in the private sector.

Its President and Chairman of Governing Council, Bode Ayeku, at a media parley in Lagos, recommend that pending the release of the code of governance in the public sector, each MDA should appoint a Secretary who should also be the Compliance Officer.

He says there is no better professional well equipped to perform the role of a Compliance Officer in each MDA than a Chartered Secretary.

On Role Of Corporate Governance During Covid-19, ICSAN President and Chairman of Governing Council, says there is need for businesses to have a long term view of their operation in this period of the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to him, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria suggested that corporate governance principles which are Transparency, Fairness, Responsibility and Accountability can be used to reset businesses following the disruption occasioned by the pandemic.

Ayeku believes businesses must operate in a sustainable manner and engage their internal and external customers to ensure they understand their needs at all times, irrespective of the state of the economy.

According to him, for instance, many parties have faltered in their contractual agreements following the lockdown to slow the spread of the pandemic.

Ayeku believes this is not the time to for any party to raise the issue of technicality but to find solutions because the pandemic will end, saying parties should manage the relationship by coming to the table using the key of transparency and other principles of corporate governance.

According to him, cost of business would go down in some areas while it would go up in others, brand managers must therefore, find a nice balance to ensure they remain in business and out run the hurricane.