As President Bola Tinubu marks his first year in office, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on him to publish his asset declaration form. This request aims to demonstrate his commitment to democracy, accountability, and transparency in government.
In a statement released on Sunday by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization urged President Tinubu to lead by example. “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 statement read.
SERAP also encouraged Tinubu to prompt Vice President Kashim Shettima, ministers, and state governors to make their asset declarations public. The organization emphasized the importance of such transparency to foster public trust and promote accountability.
“To promote public trust and establish a system of transparency, accountability, and public participation, you should urgently propose a constitutional amendment to create an asset declaration database. This would publish government officials’ asset declaration forms before, during, and after their terms in public office,” SERAP noted.
Highlighting the benefits of openness, 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.”
SERAP reminded President Tinubu of his promise in his inaugural speech on May 29, 2023, to take proactive steps against corruption and govern impartially according to the constitution and the rule of law. The organization stressed that transparency in asset declarations would enable Nigerians to scrutinize and verify the financial status of public officials, helping to prevent conflicts of interest and corruption.
“Publishing your asset declaration form and encouraging your Vice-President, ministers, and state governors to do the same would allow Nigerians to scrutinize the assets and worth of public officials before taking office and at the end of their terms,” SERAP stated.
Citing the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, and the UN Convention against Corruption, SERAP argued that public interest in asset transparency outweighs any privacy concerns.
The call for transparency comes as Tinubu’s administration approaches its first anniversary, with Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, indicating the President’s readiness to hold underperforming ministers accountable. Onanuga rated the administration’s performance at 70 percent as it nears its first year in office.
