Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make a clean start by publicly disclosing his assets, income, investments, liabilities, and interests.
In an open letter dated May 27, 2023, SERAP emphasized the need for Tinubu to prioritize human rights, media freedom, the rule of law, and the independence of the judiciary.
SERAP highlighted the government's repeated disregard for court judgments under President Muhammadu Buhari's administration and urged Tinubu to promptly obey these judgments to restore respect for the judiciary.
The organization acknowledged Tinubu's promise to combat corruption but pointed out that similar rhetoric was used by Buhari in 2015, without significant results.
According to SERAP, the widespread publication of asset details for Tinubu and other public officials would allow Nigerians to understand their worth and promote transparency and accountability. The organization emphasized that transparency in asset declarations could play a crucial role in ending systemic corruption and promoting public accountability.
SERAP criticized the concentration of wealth among a small portion of the population, noting that the power of corrupt enrichment threatened the country's political integrity.
The organization urged politicians to remove any camouflage and be transparent about their assets and income once in power, as they become trustees of public wealth and resources.
Effective enforcement of court judgments was highlighted as critical to restoring the rule of law and national interest. SERAP emphasized that the incoming government's trust and credibility would be enhanced if its leaders were transparent about their assets and income.
The disclosure of income, assets, and conflicts of interest was seen as a powerful tool to combat corruption, draw attention to abuse of public office, and foster a culture of scrutiny in the public sector. SERAP criticized the Buhari administration for failing to fulfill promises to fight corruption and respect the rule of law, citing instances of disobedience to court judgments.
The organization urged Tinubu to follow the example of late former President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, who consistently published his asset declaration forms and advocated for mandatory public asset declarations by all public officers.
SERAP highlighted the existing provisions in the Nigerian Constitution and various conventions that require public officers to declare their assets.
The letter emphasized the significant role that asset declaration plays in promoting transparency, accountability, and combating corruption in the public service. It also highlighted the constitutional provisions guaranteeing the right to information and access to information.
SERAP concluded the letter by expressing hope that Tinubu would take the necessary steps to publish his asset declaration form and encourage others to do the same, using the highlighted aspects as a guide.
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