The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to publish his asset declaration.
The organisation in a statement on its website today said Tinubu’s publication of his assets will set an example for his Vice-President Kashim Shettima, ministers, National Assembly leaders, state governors, and local government chairmen to do the same.
In the letter signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation praised Tinubu’s statement during his first Presidential Media Chat, where he expressed a willingness to consider asking the CCB to release his assets.
SERAP described the move as a significant step toward fostering transparency and accountability but urged the president to take decisive action.
“Your ‘consideration’ would carry more weight if promptly translated into action,” the letter stated. “Asking the CCB to publish your assets and encouraging others to follow suit would promote public trust and ensure transparency across all levels of government.”
SERAP warned that secrecy surrounding asset declarations by high-ranking officials fuels corruption, particularly at the state and local government levels.
The organisation emphasised that publishing assets would curb opportunities for the misuse of public funds and enhance public confidence in the integrity of government officials.
The letter also highlighted the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment prohibiting state governors from taking over local government funds.
SERAP urged Tinubu to ensure immediate implementation of the ruling and hold defaulters accountable.
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“Ignoring this judgment undermines the rule of law and democracy,” SERAP added, emphasising that transparency at the grassroots level is critical to addressing allegations of corruption and restoring public trust.
SERAP cited constitutional provisions, including Paragraph 3(c) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule, which supports public access to asset declarations filed with the CCB.
It also referenced international treaties, such as the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, which Nigeria has ratified, as legal frameworks mandating asset disclosure by public officers.
“Publishing assets is not only a constitutional requirement but also a moral obligation,” SERAP concluded, urging the president to lead by example and inspire a nationwide culture of transparency and accountability.
