As the countdown to May 29 gathers momentum, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to demonstrate his leadership position and role as the African Union Anti-Corruption Champion by widely publishing his asset declaration form.
SERAP, which made the demand in an open letter it sent to President Buhari, also asked him to encourage Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and high-ranking officials of the next administration to do the same.
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The group in the letter dated April 15, 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, insisted that if the assets were published it will enable Nigerians to scrutinise them and know the worth of public officials before they take office and at the end of their term of office.
According to the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, contained in Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], all public officers are to declare their assets immediately after taking office; at the end of every four years; and the end of their term of office.
SERAP also maintained that those who voluntarily seek or occupy public offices and are catered for by the public have certain fiduciary duties to be open, transparent, and accountable to Nigerians regarding the details of their asset declaration forms.
It further stressed that asset declaration forms are public documents so public officials cannot claim that publishing their assets would violate their privacy rights.
The organisation stated that there is an overriding public interest in disclosing information on the assets of public officers who are trustees of Nigeria’s wealth and resources.
The letter reads in part, “SERAP urges you to emulate a good example of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who consistently published his asset declaration forms as president and governor of Katsina State.
“He also planned legislative reform to make it mandatory for all public officers to declare their assets publicly. He believed that publishing his assets would put pressure on other public officers to do so.
“Publishing your asset declaration form and encouraging other public officials and the next administration officials to do so would also send a powerful message of your commitment to uphold the country’s constitutional guarantees and international obligations.
“It would also show that you are ready to do what is needed to leave a legacy of transparency and accountability.
“Apart from encouraging other officials and the officials of the next administration to publish their asset declaration forms, publishing your asset declaration form widely would also address allegations that many officials tend to make false declarations to cover up assets illegally acquired in corruption or abuse of office.
“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended]; the Freedom of Information Act; the UN Convention against Corruption; African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption; the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to Nigeria is a state party.
“According to the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, contained in Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), all public officers are to declare their assets,” SERAP said.