TheCable

Two civil society organisations have accused the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) of denying them access to the written asset declarations of past and present public officers from 2011 till date.

The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) and the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) submitted requests – copies were seen by TheCable – to the CCB for declaration of assets of elected and appointed political office holders in two tiers of government.

In a request signed by Godwin Onyeacholem, spokesman of AFRICIMIL, and dated January 18, 2017, the body requested copies of written asset declaration of: past and current principal officers of the national assembly (senate and house of representatives) since 2011 till date, upon their assumption of office and exiting office, as required by the 1999 constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria.

In another request dated February 2, 2017, and signed by Ilo Nkemdilim, chief operating officer at PPDC, the organisation requested for copies of written asset declaration of:

“The past and current governors of the 36 states in Nigeria, since 2011 till date, upon their assumption of office and exiting office, as required by the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended,” the request read.

“The past and current ministers of all the ministries in Nigeria, since 2011 till date upon their assumption and exiting office, as required by the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.”

On February 6, Nkemdilim also requested copies of the written asset declaration of: former President Goodluck Jonathan; former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osibanjo.

By enacting the freedom of information act, 2011, the 7th national assembly gave effect to the constitutionally guaranteed right of the public to access public documents held by public institutions and relevant private entities in Nigeria, and this includes asset declaration forms of public officials.

It is the sole responsibility of the CCB to ensure that all public officers declare their assets at the beginning and the end of their tenure.