The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima to ask the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to publish their assets.
SERAP also asked the President to encourage his ministers, the leadership of the National Assembly, state governors, as well as the chairmen of Nigeria’s 774 local governments to request the CCB to publish their assets.
The body noted that President Tinubu had during his first Presidential Media Chat on Monday reportedly pledge to consider asking the CCB to publish assets.
In the letter dated 28 December 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation welcomed the President’s decision to consider asking the CCB to publish his assets, saying it’s a significant development and a show of leadership.
“But your ‘consideration’ would ‘carry more weight’ if you were to promptly translate the intent into action by asking the CCB to publish your assets and encouraging your Vice-President, ministers, leadership of the National Assembly and state governors, as well as the chairmen of local governments to do the same.
“Secrecy in the assets declared by high-ranking public officials to the CCB continues to facilitate corruption at all levels of government, especially in the country’s 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and federal ministries, departments and agencies [MDAs], as well as local governments.
“Secrecy in asset declaration forms provides the biggest opportunities for the abuse of public money for private gain. Acting as recommended would reduce the opportunities for corruption at all levels of government.”
“However, transparency and accountability in the states and local governments won’t happen without you pushing for the immediate and effective implementation of the Supreme Court decision of 11 July 2024, stopping state governors from taking over local government funds.
“Asking the CCB to publish your assets and encouraging your Vice-President, ministers, the leadership of the National Assembly and state governors, as well as the chairmen of local governments to also ask the CCB to publish their assets would promote and ensure public trust, transparency and accountability.
“Transparency and openness would also increase public confidence in the integrity of high-ranking public officials and government generally, and ensure that political authorities are honest when they provide services to the people,” SERAP said in the statement.
