President Muhammadu Buhari says his strict adherence to the constitutional requirement of assets declaration before and after taking office is aimed at strengthening best practices and raising moral standards in Public Service.
Buhari has directed all outgoing officials including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, ministers, among others, to collect the assets declaration form, fill and return same to the relevant quarters.
Buhari gave the directive after receiving his assets declaration form on Friday.
A statement signed by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said Buhari stated that the move was in line with his strict adherence to the constitutional requirement of assets declaration before and after taking office.
He added that the assets declaration is also aimed at strengthening best practices, raising moral standards in Public Service, helping to build integrity and combating corruption.
“To this extent, he has directed that all out-going officials, elected and appointed from the Vice President downwards must collect the assets declaration form, fill and return it as he has done,” the statement said.
Speaking upon collecting his form from Professor Isah Mohammed the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, in Abuja on Friday, Buhari said no one is excluded from the Constitutional duty of assets declaration.
“I signed, collected and acknowledged receiving my form. From here, I will ask my bank Manager in Kaduna to show me what has gone in and out of my account. Nobody is excluded from declaring their assets. I expected everyone from the Vice President downwards to follow the system.”
Professor Mohammed said compliance by the President in the last eight years and the support he had given to the Bureau had enabled it to achieve 99% compliance by elected and appointed officials.
He also acknowledged the support of the President in the achievement of the digitization of its services and operations thereby helping the organisation to open investigation of cases with greater efficiency.
