Nigerian Stock Exchange as a result of Board room crisis that engulfed the
stock exchange.
5.3.6 Some State Governments have gone extra miles to ensure compliance to
business ethics. In Ebonyi State, the State Government created social
orientation committees to promote and inculcate ethical standards as well as
monitor the activities of public office holders, Managers and chief executives
of public corporations. Also in Akwa Ibom State, the State Government
convenes periodic meetings, seminars and workshops for Chief Executives
and Heads of public and private companies. The Akwa Ibom Investment
Promotion Council (AKIPOC) was established to liaise with the Organized
Private Sector (OPS) to encourage and promote ethical standards in
businesses. In Edo State, a fiscal governance and due process office was
established to ensure accountability and monitor unethical practices while
Ondo State undertakes regular auditing of publicly owned companies and
regularly inspects privately owned companies to ensure compliance. The
Bayelsa State Fiscal Responsibility Law 2009, emphasizes best practices for
budget transparency.
5.3.7 The newly-published Code of Corporate Governance in Nigeria which replaced
the 2003 Code was designed to institutionalize business ethics in indigenous
and foreign companies operating in Nigeria. It also addresses most of the
perceived weaknesses of the previous code. Most poignant in the new code is
the introduction of whistle blowing procedures to check unethical practices in
the industry. On the whole Corporate Governance in Nigeria is moving
towards strong enforcement which should improve in the years ahead.
5.4
Objective 4: Ensure that corporations treat all their stakeholders
(Shareholders, Employees, Communities, Suppliers and Consumers) in a fair
and just manner.
5.4.1 Under this objective, the Federal Government of Nigeria undertook the
following Activities:
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