Oyo SSG, TMC advocate ethical leadership, accountability to drive national development

OYO State government and The Muslim Congress (TMC), Oyo State chapter, have called for ethical leadership, accountability and responsible citizenship as essential drivers of national development, noting that corruption, insecurity and declining public trust have continued to undermine Nigeria’s progress.

The call was made at the 2026 TMC Oyo State Annual Lecture, held on October 4, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, under the theme, ‘Nation Building Through Ethical Leadership: Taking Ownership of Our Roles’.

Secretary to the Oyo State Government (SSG), Professor Musibaudeen Adetunji Babatunde, in a speech delivered on his behalf by the Commissioner for Commerce, Professor Salihu Adelabu, described leadership as a sacred trust requiring integrity, justice, transparency and accountability, stressing that nation-building was a collective responsibility of both leaders and citizens.

He attributed Nigeria’s persistent challenges, including poverty, insecurity, corruption and underdevelopment, not merely to inadequate resources, but also to a crisis of ethical leadership.

“The crisis of ethical leadership is a crisis of us all,” he said, urging public officials to regard their positions as opportunities to serve rather than avenues for personal enrichment.

Drawing on Islamic teachings, the SSG highlighted the concept of Amanah, or trust, and called on leaders to uphold the rule of law, manage public resources transparently and prioritise citizens’ welfare.

He also urged Nigerians to reject bribery, pay their taxes honestly and hold public officials accountable through peaceful and lawful means.

He stressed the need to invest in education, skills development and employment opportunities to harness the potential of Nigeria’s growing youth population.

Earlier, the Waali (Coordinator) of TMC, Oyo State chapter, Ustadh Idris Muhammad, called on governments at all levels to strengthen security around schools and communities following the abduction of pupils and staff in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.

While commending the Federal Government, the Oyo State government and security agencies for efforts to secure the victims’ rescue, Muhammad urged them to intensify preventive measures.

He advocated improved intelligence gathering, effective early-warning systems and stronger collaboration between security agencies and local communities, particularly in vulnerable and rural areas.

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Muhammad also expressed concern over the rising cost of living, linking it to higher fuel prices and the resulting increases in transport fares, food prices and essential services.

He urged governments to provide verifiable relief for vulnerable households and small businesses while investing in affordable public transportation and local agricultural supply chains.

On international affairs, the TMC coordinator expressed concern over tensions involving the United States and Iran, warning that global conflicts could destabilise energy markets and worsen Nigeria’s economic difficulties.

He also condemned the suffering of Palestinians, particularly the devastation in Gaza, and called for a permanent cessation of hostilities, an end to unlawful settlement expansion and respect for Palestinian sovereignty and self-determination.

The annual lecture featured two speakers: the Chief Imam of the University of Ibadan, Professor Uthman Olatunde Ibrahim, who spoke on ‘Enhancing National Cohesion, Sustainable Security and Civic Trust: From Policy to Performance’, and Sheikh Dhikirullah Shafi’i, Mufti of the Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), who delivered a lecture on ‘Ethical Governance, Accountability and Public Trust’.

Their presentations examined the importance of national cohesion, sustainable security, ethical governance and public confidence in translating policies into meaningful development outcomes.

The event also featured the presentation of gifts to winners of the year’s Qur’an competition and Spelling Bee. It was attended by political leaders, traditional rulers, chiefs, Islamic clerics and other distinguished personalities from across Oyo State.

In his remarks, Babatunde also urged Nigerians to take ownership of their responsibilities and contribute to building a nation founded on justice, integrity, peace and shared prosperity.