Press Release
The Code of Conduct Bureau has denied two civil society organizations access to the written asset declarations of current and past elected and appointed public officers brought under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
In their concerted effort at advocating for increased transparent and accountable governance in Nigeria’s public service, two Civil Society Organisations, the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) and the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) submitted Freedom of Information requests to the Code of Conduct Bureau for written declaration of assets of elected and appointed political office holders in two tiers of government.
In an FOI request dated 18th January 2017 and signed by Godwin Onyeacholem, AFRICIMIL requested for copies of written asset declaration of:
- The Past and Current Principal Officers of the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) 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.
PPDC in their FOI request dated 2nd February, 2017, signed by ILO Nkemdilim, Chief Operating Officer at PPDC, 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 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.
In another FOI request dated 6th February, 2017, signed by ILO Nkemdilim, Chief Operating Officer, the PPDC requested for copies of the written asset declaration of:
- The Former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, upon assumption of office on 29th May, 2011, and after his exit from office, on 29thMay, 2015, as required by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
- The Former Vice President of Nigeria, Arch. Namadi Sambo, upon assumption of office on 29th May, 2011, and after his exit from office as Vice President, on 29thMay, 2015, as required by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
- The Current President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, upon assumption of office as President, on 29thMay, 2015, as required by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
- The Current Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo (SAN) upon assumption of office as Vice President, on 29thMay, 2015, as required by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
Asset Declaration in Nigeria and the Role of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB):
It is the sole responsibility of the Code of Conduct Bureau to ensure that all public officers declare their assets at the beginning and the end of their tenure in office. It is also their responsibility to ensure that the assets declared are verified to ensure compliance with the provisions of the law and also to establish possible cases of misconduct or corrupt enrichment, with a view to ensuring such culprits face the full wrath of the law.
It is also the constitutional responsibility of the Bureau to retain custody of such written asset declaration forms and make them available and accessible for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria on such terms and conditions as the National Assembly may prescribe.
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, which are public documents within the meaning of the FoI Act, 2011.
An update on the response from the Code of Conduct Bureau will be published subsequently.
Press Contacts:
Ugochi Ekwueme
Public and Private Development Centre
Godwin Onyeacholem
African Centre for Media and Information Literacy
