The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has asked President-elect, Bola Tinubu; Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima; and state governors to declare their assets before May 29.
OsunDaily News reports that Dr. Mustapha Musa, the Special Assistant to CCB Chairman, Prof. Mohammed Isah, stated this in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.
Musa stated that the Bureau has done its part by issuing the asset declaration forms to all newly elected and re-elected public officers across the country. He, however, noted that some of the forms issued have not been returned.
The CCB official stated that the constitution is clear on the consequences for those that fail to return the form before they are sworn in.
He said: โIt is important for elected officers to comply with the provisions of the Constitution as it is part of the requirements for occupying or exiting a public office. As an agency of government, we have already done our work according to the constitutional mandate; we have issued assets declaration forms to the newly elected and returning public officers.
โBut since asset declaration administration is a continuous process, we have started receiving some completed forms from some of them, while some are yet to return theirs. Though, from previous experience, we hardly have had any problem with elected public officers, they do fill and return their forms, but it is important we remind them of the need to comply with the provisions of the law.
โThe constitution is clear on defaulters; hence they should declare before they are sworn in or they face the consequences.โโ
Musa said all elected public officers, appointed public officers and civil servants should also endeavour to declare their assets and comply with all the codes of the Bureau before May 29.
He added: โWe always urge them to comply with the code of conduct as enshrined under the fifth schedule of the constitution of the country, not only asset declaration. They should comply with other codes, like the prohibition of bribery and corruption, abuse of power, among others because it is for the betterment of our country,
โWhen things get better, corruption will be defeated and we will have a country we will be proud of.โ