Declare Your Assets Before Leaving Office, SERAP Tells President Muhammadu Buhari

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to boost the fight against corruption by publicly committing to publish his asset declaration at the end of his tenure in office.

SERAP also asked the president to encourage other members of his administration to also publish their asset declaration at the end of their tenures in 2023.

The organisation made the demands in an open letter dated October 1, 2022 and signed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

SERAP further urged President Buhari to direct the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) to take immediate steps to expeditiously, diligently, effectively and fairly prosecute all outstanding high-profile corruption cases currently being handled by his office.

The organisation maintained that contrary to the president’s independence’s day address that his administration has made significant progress in the eradication of deeply entrenched corruption in Nigeria, grand corruption has continued to deny millions of Nigerians equal opportunities.

It also insisted that promoting transparency and combating corruption and ensuring full and effective respect for the rule of law would send a strong signal of the government commitment to leave behind a legacy of transparency and accountability.

The letter reads in part, “Promoting transparency, combating corruption and obeying the rule of law is vital if your administration is not to leave behind a legacy of impunity and an assault against the rule of law.

“We hope that the next few months will show your administration’s commitment to consistently uphold transparency and accountability, in order to create a rule of law-friendly environment that would make Nigerians safer.

“There remain longstanding and grave concerns regarding widespread cases of grand corruption involving high-ranking government officials, and systemic corruption in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and persistent attacks on the rule of law.

“The reality today is that there is massive corruption at the highest level of government, and in ministries, departments and agencies, with a corrosive impact on Nigerians.

“The indicators of bad governance and mismanagement of the country’s natural wealth and resources should serve as proof of the need for your government to reinforce and recommit to the fight against corruption.’’

According to SERAP, public officials still use political power to enrich themselves without considering the public good, adding that in several states of the federation and federal ministries, corruption is taking place every day and every hour.

It pointed out that corruption continues to directly affect the lives and well-being of millions of Nigerians across the country, erode public trust in public institutions and leaders, threatening the foundation of our democracy.