The Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged all state governors in Nigeria to make
public full details of their asset declarations submitted to the Code of
Conduct Bureau (CCB).
SERAP said Nigerians ought to
know the worth of their state governors, adding that the publication of asset
declarations by state governors will improve transparency, accountability and
good governance.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde,
had a fortnight ago announced his own assets.
In a statement on Sunday by SERAP
deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “Public officials
cannot lay claim to absolute privacy in matters of asset declarations.
“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.”
The organization also urged the
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State Governor, Dr.
Kayode Fayemi, 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.
SERAP added: “As fiduciaries and
trustees of the public weal, state governors are under an inescapable
obligation to serve the public with highest fidelity and openness. In
discharging the duties of their office, they are required to display good
faith, honesty and integrity.
“They must be impervious to
corrupting influences and they must transact their business frankly and openly
in the light of public scrutiny so that the public may know and be able to
judge them and their work fairly.”
“Transparency in asset
declarations is needed to check against corruption and to hold the governors
accountable to the governed.
“Publishing the asset
declarations by governors would help address the high level of public distrust
and dissatisfaction with spending of security votes by state governors, enable
closer relations between state governors and the public, and secure the
confidence of the citizens in their governments.”
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