Public Accountability: SERAP Presses Tinubu And Ministers To Reveal Their Assets

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to instruct the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to publicly disclose his declared assets.

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization also urged Tinubu to encourage Vice-President Kashim Shettima, ministers, state governors, and leaders of the National Assembly to follow his lead.

SERAP emphasized that such a move by the President to request the CCB to release his assets, along with urging other officials to do the same, would foster public trust, transparency, and accountability in government.

While commending Tinubu for suggesting during his first Presidential Media Chat that he might request the CCB to release his assets, SERAP urged him to take immediate action, noting that swift implementation would add significant weight to the message.

The organization pointed out the harmful effects of secrecy around asset declarations by public officials, stressing that it contributes to corruption at all levels of government.

The statement read, “We welcome your reported decision to consider asking the CCB to publish your assets as a positive development, signaling your commitment to lead on this crucial issue.

“Taking immediate action to request the CCB to make your assets public, and encouraging your Vice-President, ministers, National Assembly leaders, state governors, and local government chairmen to do the same, would greatly enhance public trust, transparency, and accountability.

“Secrecy surrounding asset declarations by high-ranking public officials has continued to fuel corruption across Nigeria’s states, the Federal Capital Territory, and within various ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), and local governments.”

SERAP also linked the push for transparency to the Supreme Court ruling on July 11, 2024, which prohibited state governors from seizing local government funds, urging Tinubu to enforce this ruling.