SERAP also told the incoming government to ensure it prioritises the rule of law, media freedom and fighting corruption
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has advised Nigeria’s President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to openly declare his assets ahead of his inauguration on Monday, May 29.
The body which focuses on economic and social rights made this known on Sunday in a statement made available by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, where it also called on the incoming administration to walk the talk concerning its electoral promises.
The statement urged Tinubu to prioritise the rule of law, media freedom and fight against corruption.
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It further noted that the promise by the President-elect to “kill corruption’ is nothing new, because the outgoing president, Muhammadu Buhari used a similar hollow anti-corruption phrase in 2015.
“As Nigerians have witnessed for eight years, Buhari has neither ‘killed corruption’ nor obeyed court judgments on transparency and accountability, ” SERAP stated.
It added: “If your election is upheld by the judiciary, your government can use transparency in asset declarations as a means of promoting public accountability and ending systemic corruption in the country.
“Widely publishing details of your assets, income, investments and liabilities and encouraging your Vice-President-Elect and others to do the same would allow Nigerians to know your worth and the worth of other public officials.”
President Muhammadu Buhari will hand over the mantle of leadership to Tinubu on Monday after completing his eight-year tenure.
