Niger Threatens To Sack Officials Refusing To Declare Assets

Following the discovery that some political appointees have refused to declare their assets in Niger State , the state government is set to force them to comply with the statutory requirements or risk being sacked.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the official notification from the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Niger State Office, has  alerted the government that some political appointees, including Directors-General, Managing Directors, and Coordinators, were yet to fulfill their constitutional obligation on assets declaration.

It was learnt that Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago who was not happy with the development has instructed the Secretary to the State Government  (SSG) Abubakar Usman  to immediately ensure that all the officials concerned comply.

Consequently  SSG yesterday  directed all political appointees to immediately comply with the constitutional requirement on Assets Declaration, in accordance with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

Usman,  emphasised that compliance with the assets declaration law is mandatory and binding on all public officers.

He warned that failure to declare assets as required by law amounts to a breach of the Constitution and the Oath of Office, stressing that defaulters risk losing their appointments and facing trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The SSG reiterated the administration’s commitment to accountability, transparency and good governance, urging all appointees to visit the Code of Conduct Bureau Office, Federal Secretariat, Minna, to regularize their declarations without delay.

He stated that “this Government will not condone any act that undermines the Constitution. All appointees must comply fully with the directive of the Code of Conduct Bureau,” .

The SSG also directed all Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Agencies to ensure that officers under their supervision comply promptly with this directive.