The Code of Conduct Bureau has ruled that the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima, and 28 incoming governors must declare their assets before May 29 in order to participate in the presidential inauguration.
Before they are sworn in on June 5th, other officials, such as senators and representatives-elect, are expected to disclose their financial status.
According to the law, asset declaration is an essential component of the swearing-in ceremony, the CCB spokesperson, Mrs. Veronica Kato, told newsmen in Abuja. She also revealed that several elected officials had begun selecting their asset declaration forms at CCB state offices across the country and that they were expected to submit the filled-out copies to the bureau before the day of the inauguration.
The paperwork for assets declaration will be obtained from the CCB and submitted by the departing officials, including presidential advisers, the 28 state governors and their cabinet members, National Assembly and state assembly members, and local government chairmen, in accordance with the 1999 constitution.
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Whether President Muhammadu Buhari, his running mate Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and other public officials had disclosed their assets prior to leaving office in accordance with the law could not be immediately confirmed.
According to the constitution, all public officials must disclose their assets and debts both when they take office and after their terms are up.
The impacted officials are required to provide comprehensive information, which may include, but is not limited to, the quantity, varieties, addresses, values, dates of acquisition, and income derived from the properties, subject to verification by the CCB officers.
Failure to disclose assets as required by paragraph 11 of the Fifth Schedule of the Federal Constitution results in removal from office, disqualification from holding any public office, and forfeiture of any property obtained dishonestly or through abuse of office to the state upon conviction.
The CCB spokeswoman who disclosed that outgoing public officials had started collecting the assets declaration forms as part of the formalities for leaving office also issued a warning that any defaulting officials would not be sworn in, despite the fact that assets declaration was a necessity for the inauguration procedure.
“But one thing is sure; no public official will be sworn into office without filling their assets declaration form. That is what is contained in our law. Before the oath of office would be conferred on any elected public officials, they must submit their assets declaration forms. It is part of the requirements for the swearing-in ceremony.’’
“The outgoing public officials have also started picking up their assets declaration forms. Many of them have started picking up the forms this week because officials are required to fill the forms and declare their assets both at the beginning and at the end of their tenure.”
