“Publish your asset declaration form,” SERAP tells Tinubu, others

As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu gets closer to marking his one-year office anniversary, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has charged the Nigerian leader to publish his assets to serve legitimate public interests.

The rights body also charged Vice-President Kashim Shettima, ministers, and state governors to widely publish their assets declaration forms.

In the open letter dated 25 May 2024 and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Widely publishing your asset declaration form and encouraging your Vice-President, ministers, and state governors to also widely publish their assets would serve legitimate public interests.”

SERAP stressed that “publishing your asset declaration form and encouraging others to do so would also promote public trust and establish a system of transparency, accountability and public participation.”

It added, “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.

The letter read in part: “You promised in your inaugural speech on May 29, 2023 ‘to take proactive steps to discourage corruption’, and to ensure that ‘Nigeria is impartially governed according to the constitution and the rule of law.

“We urge you to use your first anniversary in office as an important opportunity to underscore and reaffirm your oft-repeated commitment to democratic governance, openness and public accountability by immediately taking concrete steps to implement the proposed recommendations.”