Politics
First Anniversary: SERAP Urges Tinubu To Publish His Assets
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to key into the first anniversary of his administration to publish his asset declaration form.
According a statement, the SERAP urged him “to encourage your Vice-President Kashim Shettima, ministers, and state governors to also widely publish their asset declaration forms.”
In addition, the SERAP urged him “to urgently propose a constitutional amendment to include provisions on the creation of asset declaration database to publish government officials’ asset declaration forms before, during, and after serving in public office.”
This was contained in an open letter dated 25 May 2024 and signed by deputy director, SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation.
The SERAP stated, “Widely publishing your asset declaration form and encouraging your Vice-President, ministers, and state governors to also widely publish their assets would serve legitimate public interests.
“Publishing your asset declaration form and encouraging others to do so would also promote public trust and establish a system of transparency, accountability and public participation.”
According to the SERAP, “Openness and transparency in the details of asset declaration forms of high-level public officials would strengthen the country’s democracy and promote accountability at all levels of government.
The letter, read in part: “You promised in your inaugural speech on May 29, 2023 ‘to take proactive steps to discourage corruption’, and to ensure that ‘Nigeria is impartially governed according to the constitution and the rule of law’.”
“We urge you to use your first anniversary in office as an important opportunity to underscore and reaffirm your oft-repeated commitment to democratic governance, openness and public accountability by immediately taking concrete steps to implement the proposed recommendations.”
“Transparency in the details of asset declaration forms would also enable Nigerians to scrutinise the forms and verify the financial situation of public officials and alert about possible conflicts of interest and corruption.”
“Asset declaration forms are a matter of public interest and your government ought to provide the leadership and encourage other high-ranking public officials to harness new technologies to publish the details of their asset declaration forms online and make the forms readily available to the public.”
“Corruption is one the greatest challenges to improving the country’s democracy and rebuilding a transparent, accountable and participatory system of governance. One way that corrupt politicians in the country have perpetuated corrupt practices is through hiding assets.”
“Transparency and openness would also increase public confidence in the integrity of high-ranking public officials and government generally, and ensure that political authorities are honest when they provide services to people.”
“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended]; and Nigeria’s international anticorruption and human rights obligations.”
“Information regarding the property and economic interests of public officials ought to be accessible to the public through a website created for this purpose.”
“Transparency in the details of asset declaration forms of high-level public officials would also promote citizens’ participation in the fight against corruption which in turn would increase the transparency of public administration and the citizens’ trust in the integrity of state institutions.”
“Those who voluntarily seek or occupy public offices and are catered for by the public have certain fiduciary duties to be open, transparent and accountable to the people regarding the details of their asset declaration forms.”
“Because asset declaration forms are public documents, public officials cannot claim that publishing their assets would violate their privacy rights.”
“There is an overriding public interest in the disclosure of information on the assets of public officers who clearly are trustees of Nigeria’s wealth and resources.”
“Publishing your asset declaration form and encouraging your Vice-President, ministers and state governors to also widely publish their asset declaration forms would enable Nigerians to scrutinize the assets and worth of public officials before taking office and at the end of their term of office.”
“Publishing your asset declaration form and encouraging your Vice-President, ministers and state governors to also widely publish their asset declaration forms would also send a powerful message of your commitment to uphold the country’s constitutional guarantees and international obligations.”
“According to the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, contained in Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], all public officers are to declare their assets.”
“Paragraph 11(1)(a)(b) of the Fifth Schedule provides that every public officer shall immediately after taking office and thereafter (a) at the end of every four years; and (b) at the end of his/her term of office, submit to the Code of Conduct Bureau a written declaration of all his properties, assets, and liabilities and those of his unmarried children under the age of eighteen years.”
“Section 15(1) of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Tribunal Act also requires all public officers to declare their assets.”
“Article 7(1) of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and Articles 7(4) and 8(5) of the UN Convention against Corruption also contain similar provisions and requirements for public officials to declare their assets before, during, and after serving in public office.”
“The Nigerian Constitution and the anticorruption and human rights treaties show the significant role that asset declaration by public officials plays in promoting transparency, accountability and preventing and combating corruption in the public service.”
“Section 109 of the Evidence Act defines a public document to include documents forming the acts or records of the acts of public officers. Asset declaration forms kept with the Code of Conduct Bureau therefore qualify as public documents under section 109.”
“We hope that the aspects highlighted will help guide your steps in taking steps to publish your asset declaration form and to encourage others to do so.”
The Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) has thrust upon Nigeria’s political scene the youngest candidate for the office of Senator of the Federal Republic in the person of Kevin Eneojo Akoje, who aspires to represent Kogi East Senatorial District.
Akoje is a Brand Engagement Consultant, Public Speaker, Security Commentator, Social analyst and a serial Media Entrepreneur.
He is the CEO of PhotoBar Nigeria a New Media/Multimedia content service provider (www.photosbarng.com)
A native Igala from Ibaji Local Government Area in Kogi State was born on 2nd December, 1983 in Kaduna.
He attended Federal Government College, Jos (1994-1999) for his secondary education before heading to Study Political Science at the University of Abuja (2000-2004).
During his undergraduate days, he rose to various positions in the Executive committees of the Nigeria Federation of Catholic Students, University Choir and also in the Student Union Government 2003 (as a representative).
These formative years held his new enlightenment into martial arts.
He went on in 2008 to pursue a post graduate Masters’ degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from Nigeria’s premier military institution, the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna.
He has since completed several courses which include:
- Training and proficiency in Alternative Dispute Resolution-Negotiation, Mediation, Arbitration and Hybrid processes: Abuja, Nigeria (2006)
- Effective Risk Management and Corporate Governance Practice: West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Lagos, Nigeria (October 7, 2013 – October 11, 2013).
- Centre De Langue Francaise: Ministry of Education, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria (2005)
- UNITAR E-Learning Course on Introduction to Environment, Natural Resources and UN Peace Keeping Operations – March 2014
- UNITAR E-Learning Course on Introduction to Security Sector Reform – March 2014
Corporate Background
Upon graduation from University of Abuja Kevin Went on to work as follows:
- Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria: Workshop Assistant 2005
- Legal Defense and Assistance Project (UNODC) research on the Justice Sector as the Field Research Supervisor for Kaduna State
- Zenith Bank Plc.
Political Career
Armed with an undergraduate degree in Political Science, an MSC in Defence and Strategic Studies it was only natural that he sought to put to action all the theories learnt.
This led him to vie for the Student Union Government position of representative for Units 7,8 & 9 in the 2003 Unibuja SUG elections which he won in a landslide victory over two other candidates.
Being a member of the Justice Development and Peace Commission of the Catholic Church he and many other persons volunteered as Election Observers for General Elections of 2015 & 2019 where in both cases he was assigned to PU 06/002, Igabi Local Government, Kaduna.
His compulsory National Youth Service Corp Deployment to Ogun State saw him serve Nigeria in the Bills Department of the Ogun State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Titi Oseni in 2005.
Upon resignation of his duties in the corporate sector in 2016- after 9 years of service, Kevin was introduced to a team of Technocrats by Dr. Jay Osi Samuels and together registered a political party named Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) where he emerged the pioneer Director of Media and Publicity amongst other roles which included, Deputy National Youth Leader (A role which officially made him the youngest Nigerian serving on a National Executive Council) and Publicity Secretary, ANN, FCT Chapter.
Nurturing the basic tenets of politics and a renewed vigour to serve he has presented himself in the race for the exalted upper legislative house of Senate in the 2019 General Elections in Kogi East Senatorial District.
Sports:
His love for sports introduced him to the world of Martial Arts in his early years. A training which he developed over the years and now is a member of the Black Belt College – National Association of Shotokan Karate and also the founder of Karate-In-Nigeria (See www.facebook.com/karateinnigeria) which seeks to promote and showcase the culture and rich practice of Karate in Nigeria and a maiden National Karate Tourney in 2019 for the different schools of Karate in Nigeria.
Environment:
Following his earlier training on Environment and Natural Resources, Kevin founded in 2017 @climateactionng (see www.climateactionng.org, www.facebook.com/climateactionng) based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) with a mission to “Strengthen Youth Leadership (Climate Action) to ensure resilient and sustainable societies.
Family and Personal Life:
Kevin was born to a family of 4 siblings in total, a Catholic and married with a Son.
He is a founding member of the International Community of St. Egidio (See www.santegidio.org), Nigeria Community.
He is a Black Belt degree holder in Karate, a lawn-tennis player, swimmer, member, Lekki Bird Club, and member, Nigeria Shooting Federation.
He is also an honorary reporter for the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism under her “Korea Clickers” program for 2018.
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has responded to the appeal of Ijesa Muslim Community on the ongoing Ilesa road dualisation, reassuring the Muslim faithful that there is no plan to demolish the Ilesa Central Mosque.
Gov Adeleke gave the assurance through his Spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, noting that the word given during the ‘Ipade Imole’ remains.
“Governor Adeleke has received the plea of the Ijesa Muslim leaders and has directed that fresh assurance be given that the mosque is not billed for demolition in the ongoing road dualisation.
“The Muslim ummah should not entertain any fear as the mosque remains intact. Only the extended canopies will be affected, not the main building as earlier indicated.
“The Governor has also directed officials of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to interface with the Muslim leaders on the subject matter”, the Spokesperson noted.
While commending stakeholders for actively supporting the ongoing dualisation at Ilesa, the Spokesperson explained that his principal was committed to the implementation of the multi-billion-naira Infrastructure upgrade with an eye on deep local content and active community engagement and collaboration.
On Tuesday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) national transition committee called for the resignation of the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, citing the expiration of his tenure.
Led by Acting Chairman Aduwaheed Omar, the group marched to the party’s headquarters in Abuja, chanting solidarity songs and demanding that Abure should step down.
Upon their arrival, security personnel quickly shut the gates to prevent entry.
In an attempt to force their way in, the protesters were met with teargas from the Police. Despite this, they continued to demand that the gates be opened.
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