The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, a Nigerian non-governmental organization focused on promoting socio-economic rights, has called on President Bola Tinubu to use the occasion of his first anniversary in office to publicly declare his assets.
This request underscores a broader push for transparency and accountability within the Nigerian government.
SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, emphasized the importance of this act, stating, “Use the anniversary of your first year in office as an opportunity to demonstrate your oft-expressed commitment to democracy, accountability, and openness in government by immediately publishing your asset declaration form.”
The organization also urged President Tinubu to encourage his Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, as well as ministers and state governors, to disclose their asset declaration forms publicly.
The organization highlighted the necessity for President Tinubu to propose a constitutional amendment aimed at creating a comprehensive asset declaration database. This database would serve to publish the asset declarations of government officials before, during, and after their tenure in public office, thereby promoting public trust and fostering a culture of transparency and accountability.
SERAP reiterated the president’s inaugural promises made on May 29, 2023, where he committed to taking proactive steps to combat corruption and ensure impartial governance according to the constitution and the rule of law. The organization believes that publishing asset declaration forms is a crucial step towards achieving these goals.
“Transparency in the details of asset declaration forms would also enable Nigerians to scrutinise the forms and verify the financial situation of public officials and alert about possible conflicts of interest and corruption,” SERAP stated.
Moreover, SERAP contended that the declaration of assets by public officials is of public interest and that the government should lead by example. They pointed out that concealing assets has been a method through which corrupt politicians have historically perpetuated corrupt practices. “Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended]; and Nigeria’s international anti-corruption and human rights obligations,” SERAP stated.
The organization also noted that asset declaration forms, as public documents, do not infringe on privacy rights.
“There is an overriding public interest in the disclosure of information on the assets of public officers who are trustees of Nigeria’s wealth and resources,” they added.
SERAP believes that such transparency would allow Nigerians to examine the assets of public officials before they take office and at the end of their terms.
Citing supportive legal frameworks such as the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, and the UN Convention against Corruption, SERAP hopes to guide the president in taking steps towards greater transparency.
According to The PUNCH, in a related development, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, said that President Tinubu is prepared to dismiss underperforming ministers to ensure his administration’s effectiveness.
Onanuga rated the administration’s performance as it nears its first year in office at 70 per cent, reflecting a positive assessment of its progress.
