The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Prof. Isah Mohammed, led a delegation on Friday to present the asset declaration form to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) at the State House, Abuja, in line with the constitutional requirement for public officers to declare their assets and liabilities upon assuming office. The asset declaration form is mandatory for all public officers. Public officeholders are expected to declare their assets and liabilities on the form within 30 days of receipt, including that of their spouses and children under 18 years who are not public officers. Furthermore, the CCB has confirmed that it will verify the assets of Buhari, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, and their families.
All outgoing and newly-elected public officials, including the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima, the state assembly members, and their cabinet members, have until May 29 to submit their assets declaration forms. Failure to do so or declare assets as required may attract on conviction removal from office, disqualification from holding any public office, forfeiture to the state of any property acquired in abuse of office or dishonesty.
Meanwhile, the Enugu State Governor-elect, Dr Peter Mbah, and his Kano State counterpart, Abba Kabir Yusuf, also submitted their asset declaration forms in compliance with the laid down procedure for public officials. Speaking at the CBB office in Enugu, Governor-elect Mbah stated that he was fulfilling the law’s requirements and pledged to uphold such requirements throughout his administration, whilst Governor-elect Yusuf emphasized that transparency and accountability would be the bedrock of his government’s program in the state.
In the coming weeks, the CCB will verify the submitted forms to ensure adequate compliance with relevant asset declaration laws by public officials.
