Publish your assets to mark anniversary, SERAP tells Tinubu

Social-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to use the anniversary of his first year in office as an opportunity to demonstrate his oft-expressed commitment to democracy, accountability, and openness in government by publishing his asset declaration form.

SERAP also urged him to encourage Vice-President Kashim Shettima, ministers, and state governors to widely publish their asset declaration forms.

The organisation also called on him to urgently propose a constitutional amendment to the provisions on the creation of asset declaration databases to publish government officials’ asset declaration forms before, during, and after serving in public office.

In the open letter at the weekend, signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the body said: “Publishing your asset declaration form and encouraging others to do so would promote public trust and establish a system of transparency, accountability and public participation.”

According to the body, openness and transparency in the details of asset declaration forms of high-level public officials will strengthen the country’s democracy and promote accountability at all levels of government.

SERAP said: “You promised in your inaugural speech on May 29, 2023 ‘to take proactive steps to discourage corruption’, and to ensure that ‘Nigeria is impartially governed according to the constitution and the rule of law’.

“We urge you to use your first anniversary in office as an important opportunity to underscore and reaffirm your oft-repeated commitment to democratic governance, openness and public accountability by immediately taking concrete steps to implement the proposed recommendations.

“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.”

According to SERAP, asset declaration forms are of public interest and the government ought to provide the leadership and encourage other high-ranking public officials to harness new technologies to publish the details of their asset declaration forms online and make the forms readily available to the public.

Corruption, SERAP lamented, constituted one of the greatest challenges to improving the country’s democracy and rebuilding a transparent, accountable, and participatory system of governance.

“One way that corrupt politicians in the country have perpetuated corrupt practices is through hiding assets.

“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 people.

“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 anticorruption and human rights obligations,” the group added.