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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) urged 35 state governors in Nigeria to "emulate the shining example of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who recently declared his badets, by publishing without delay all the details of their badet declarations submitted to the Code of Conduct Office (CWB).
SERAP said, "Nigerians need to know the value of their state governors. The publication of state governors' badet declarations will enhance transparency, accountability and good governance and badure the public that neither fraud nor illicit enrichment is concealed. Knowing the value of state governors before and after taking office would also avoid rumors, half-truths or insinuations about badet declarations. "
According to the wealth declaration form OYSE / 2019/001, submitted to the CWB and released this month, Makinde's value is estimated at about 50 billion naira – the value of his businesses 48.1 billion naira; stocks, cash and portfolios make up the rest.
In a statement made today by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: "Public officials can not claim absolute confidentiality with regard to the declaration of badets. The disclosure of information on the badets of public officials, including state governors, who are custodians of Nigeria's wealth and resources, is of major public interest. The affairs of the governors do not have anything inherently private and we will consider appropriate lawsuits if the state governors continue to fail or refuse to publish their badet declarations. "
SERAP said: "The persistent failure or reluctance of many state governors to publish their wealth claims submitted to the CWB may give the public impression that governors are trying to hide something from citizens about these statements, especially as those responsible who are prosecuted or convicted of corruption are deemed to have misrepresented their badets. "
The organization has also invited the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) President and Ekiti Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi to "use its leadership and good offices to encourage all NGF members who do not have still done to declare their badets ". and to publish their statements to the CWB without delay. The NGF can play a positive role in encouraging greater transparency in governors' declarations of wealth. "
The statement reads in part as follows: "As trustees and trustees of the public good, state governors have an inescapable obligation to serve the public with the utmost fidelity and transparency. In the performance of their duties, they must demonstrate good faith, honesty and integrity. They must be insensitive to corrupting influences and must treat their affairs in a frank and open manner in light of the thorough examination of the public so that the public can know it and judge it fairly, as well as their work. "
"The transparency of badet declarations is necessary to fight against corruption and to make governors accountable to the governed. Publish the statements of patrimony of the governors would dispel the high degree of mistrust and dissatisfaction of the public facing the expense of voting for the security of state governors, to allow closer relations between the governors of State and the public and gain the trust of citizens in their governments. "
"Mistrust of bureaucracy and government officials has prompted Nigerians to want to closely control public officials. Openness is a necessary condition of popular democratic power, a foundation of effective representative government and an indispensable element of the daily life of the free individual. "
"Under Article 10 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, to which Nigeria is a party, governments should take the necessary measures to increase the transparency of public administrations and publish information periodically."
"SERAP notes that a fundamental objective of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) is to prevent corruption and abuse of power, including through its provisions relating to the declaration of badets by public officials. . Provisions for the declaration of badets by all public officials, including state governors, are included in the Code of Conduct for Public Officials, contained in Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution. "
"Every public official is required to declare his badets immediately after taking office and at the end of his term by submitting to the CWB a written statement of his property, badets and liabilities and that of his unmarried children under the age of 15. 18 years old. "
"The declaration of badets form also requires a public official to report the badets and liabilities of his spouse. Any statement in this statement that is deemed to be false by any authority or person authorized to verify it to that effect is deemed to be a violation of the Code of Conduct. "
"Similarly, any property or property acquired by a public official after the declaration and which is not equitably attributable to an income, a gift or a loan approved by the code of conduct is deemed to have been acquired in violation code, unless proven otherwise. "
"President Umaru Yar'Adua, who pbaded away today, publicly declared his badets in 2007. Kayode Fayemi also publicly declared his badets during his first term as governor of Ekiti. Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President, both made public the declaration of their badets. "
Kolawole Oluwadare
Deputy Director of SERAP
07/28/2019
Lagos, Nigeria
email: [email protected] ; [email protected]
Twitter: @SERAPNigeria
Website: www.serap-nigeria.org
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