OPEN ASSETS DECLARATION: Emulate Makinde, SERAP tells govs

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged 35 state governors in Nigeria to “emulate the example of Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde.

Makinde had recently openly declared his assets; a feat many of his colleagues are still shying away from.

But SERAP, in a statement on Sunday challenged 35 other governors in the country to without further delay publish the full details of their asset declarations submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as Makinde did.

“Nigerians ought to know the worth of their state governors. The publication of asset declarations by state governors will improve transparency, accountability and good governance and assure the public that neither fraud nor illicit enrichment is concealed. Knowing the worth of state governors before and after taking offices would also prevent rumours, half-truths or innuendo regarding asset declarations,” SERAP said.

According to the assets declaration form marked OYSE/2019/001, and submitted to the CCB and made public this month, Governor Makinde’s worth is put at about N50 billion – his firms are worth up to N48.1 billion; shares, cash and portfolios make up the rest.

In the statement its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP said that public officials could not lay claim to absolute privacy in matters of asset declarations.

The statement read in part, “There is an overriding public interest in the disclosure of information on the assets of public officials, including state governors, who are trustees of Nigeria’s wealth and resources.

“There is nothing inherently private in the affairs of governors, and we will consider appropriate legal action if state governors continue to fail or refuse to publish their asset declarations.

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“Continuing failure or reluctance by many state governors to publish their asset declarations submitted to the CCB may lead to public perception that the governors are attempting to hide something from the citizens regarding those declarations, especially given the fact that many of the public officials being tried for or convicted of corruption are found to have made a false declaration of their assets.”

The organization also urged the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to “use his leadership position and good offices to encourage all the members of NGF who have not yet done so to declare their assets and to publish their declarations submitted to the CCB without delay.

“The NGF can play a positive role in encouraging greater transparency in asset declarations by governors,” SERAP added.

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