The Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, has called on the newly elected, re-elected and outgoing public officers to declare their assets before being sworn in or leaving office on May 29.
Dr Mustapha Musa, the Special Assistant to CCB Chairman, Prof. Mohammed Isah, said this when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.
”It 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.
“But 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,” Mr Musa said.
He added: “The constitution is clear on defaulters, hence they should declare before they are sworn in or they face the consequences.’’
Musa said that aside from elected public officers, appointed public officers and civil servants should also endeavour to declare their assets.
He added that apart from asset declaration, the officers must comply with all the codes of the Bureau.
“We 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 prohibition of bribery and corruption, abuse of power, among others because it is for the betterment of our country,
“When things get better, corruption will be defeated and we will have a country we will be proud of,” he said.
NAN
