Success Nwogu 
The Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), has called on professionals to take the lead in driving governance reforms and ethical leadership in Nigeria.
President of the APBN, Manason Rubainu who spoke at the 40th Annual General Assembly of APBN on Tuesday in Abuja, said Nigeria was confronted with a governance crisis fuelled by a political system riddled with inefficiency, corruption and a lack of accountability.
Rubainu who noted that the political class should not be the only ones to be blamed for the country’s woes, regretted that Nigerians and professionals share in the blame because they failed to sanitise the political leadership by disciplining them or bringing them under any form of control.
While identifying insecurity, corruption and underdeveloped infrastructure as key challenges facing Nigeria, Rubainu urged professionals in the country to recommit to ethical standards, promote accountability and transparency, reflect on their daily practices and contribute to national development.
He said: “I am not here to simply lay blame at the feet of the political class. As professionals, we too must look inward and critically assess our contributions, both positive and negative, to the governance of our nation.
“As professionals across various sectors-medicine, law, engineering, accounting, education, and more we have a unique role to play in the development of our country.
“We are not mere spectators; we are architects of society. Our knowledge and skills shape the policies that govern us, the structures that support our economy, and the systems that ensure justice and fairness. Yet, we must ask ourselves: have we lived up to our responsibility as nation-builders?
“Too often, we have seen professionals complicit in the very governance failures we decry. Engineers who certify substandard infrastructure, accountants who facilitate financial malfeasance, lawyers who defend corruption, and doctors who abandon ethical standards-all these actions weaken the fabric of our society. When we, as professionals, become enablers of poor governance, we erode the trust placed in us by the public.
“Our country needs more than just good governance; it needs ethical leadership across all levels of society. As professionals, we must recommit ourselves to the highest standards of integrity and service.
“We cannot afford to stand by while our nation falters. We must rise to the occasion and contribute positively to national development by upholding the ethical standards that define our various professions.
“Let us be clear: governance is not the sole responsibility of politicians. We, too, must take ownership of the future of Nigeria. If our political leaders fail, we have a duty to guide them, to advocate for policies that promote accountability and transparency, and to reject any participation in unethical practices.”
Rubainu while expressing optimism that professional bodies in the country stand as a beacon of hope, added, “Together we can be a force for change, driving the reforms necessary for better governance.
We must partner with government institutions, civil society and the private sector to ensure that professionalism is at the heart of governance in Nigeria
“Our expertise gives us a unique voice in shaping policies that can improve governance. We should actively engage in public policy debates, offering solutions grounded in our knowledge and experience.
“Each of us must recommit to the ethical standards of our respective professions. We must hold ourselves and our peers accountable, ensuring that integrity is non-negotiable.
“We must invest in the development of the next generation of professionals. By mentoring young people, we can instil the values of ethical leadership, service, and responsibility.
“The political class bears much responsibility for the state of our nation, but we, as professionals, must also own our part in it. Together, we can correct the course of governance in this country, ensuring that our children and future generations inherit a nation governed by principles of justice, fairness, and accountability.”
