Public declaration of asset not mandatory – Presidency

The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media, Garba Shehu has said President Buhari will not force government officials to declare their assets publicly.

Shehu made the remark in an interview with the Punch.

He noted that it was not a requirement of the law that officials declare their assets publicly.

The Presidential media aide maintained that the decision of public office holders to make public their assets declaration is a personal affair.

According to Garba, “The requirement of the law, as far as assets declaration is concerned, is that officials fill out the forms and submit to the Code of Conduct Bureau before they take office and when they leave.

“It is not a requirement of the law that presidents, governors or any such officials should make their (asset) declarations public.


“It then comes down to choice. If they chose to publish it as the President and the Vice President did, it will be considered as purely a personal choice.

“Since the law does not envisage any such public declaration, the administration will be acting outside the laws to force a public disclosure on any official.

“A reporter can go through the Freedom of Information Act to obtain information concerning any such declaration already made.”

Recall that the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, had in September threatened to probe some top government officials over their assets declaration.