Abuja, Dec. 2024 – The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to request the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to publish his assets.
SERAP gave the advice to the president in a letter signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and dated Dec. 28, 2024.
It also advised the President to encourage Vice-President Kashim Shettima, the ministers, leadership of the National Assembly, state governors, and chairmen of Nigeria’s 774 local governments to also request the CCB to publish their assets.
The president had, during his first Presidential Media Chat last Monday, said he would consider asking the CCB to release details of his assets.”
SERAP said it welcomed the president’s reported decision to consider asking the CCB to publish his assets as a significant development, and a signal of his intent, willingness, and commitment to show leadership on this important matter of public interest.
It said the president’s consideration would also carry more weight if the president would promptly translate his intent into action by asking the CCB to publish the assets and encourage the 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 also 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,” SERAP said. (GBN)
