The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to use the anniversary of his first year in office to publish his asset declaration form.
This move, they argue, would underscore his commitment to democracy, accountability, and openness in government.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP urged the President to “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.”
SERAP also encouraged Tinubu to prompt other high-level officials to follow suit.
“Encourage your Vice-President Kashim Shettima, ministers, and state governors to also widely publish their asset declaration forms,” the organisation said.
The group emphasized that promoting public trust and establishing a system of transparency and accountability requires urgent action.
SERAP called on Tinubu to “propose a constitutional amendment to include provisions on the creation of an asset declaration database to publish government officials’ asset declaration forms before, during, and after serving in public office.”
The statement continued, “Openness and transparency in the details of asset declaration forms of high-level public officials would strengthen the country’s democracy and promote accountability at all levels of government.”
Reflecting on Tinubu’s inaugural speech on May 29, 2023, SERAP reminded the President of his promise “to take proactive steps to discourage corruption” and to ensure that “Nigeria is impartially governed according to the constitution and the rule of law.”
The organisation urged him to use his first anniversary in office to reaffirm his commitment to democratic governance, openness, and public accountability by implementing the proposed recommendations.
“Transparency in the details of asset declaration forms would also enable Nigerians to scrutinize the forms and verify the financial situation of public officials and alert about possible conflicts of interest and corruption,” SERAP added.
The declaration of assets by public officials is a matter of public interest, the group noted, and called on the government to lead by example.
“One of the ways through which corrupt politicians in the country have perpetuated corrupt practices is through hiding assets,” SERAP stated.
Citing the Nigerian Constitution, the Tribunal Act, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, and the UN Convention against Corruption, SERAP argued that public officials cannot claim publishing their assets would violate their 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.”
In conclusion, SERAP urged, “Publishing your asset declaration form and encouraging your Vice-President, ministers, and state governors to also widely publish their asset declaration forms would enable Nigerians to scrutinize the assets and worth of public officials before taking office and at the end of their term of office.”
