Thread by @SERAPNigeria

#LiveReport: Media presentation of our latest report titled: 'NO ESCAPE FOR THE CORRUPT: LIFTING THE LID ON ASSET DECLARATIONS IN NIGERIA' is underway
Presenter: Prof. Akinseye-George(SAN)
Moderator: @MaupeO
#AssetDeclarations

Objectives of the Guide:
1. To facilitate the strengthening of the operational capacity of public officers, government functionaries and institutions involved in the implementation and daily management of asset and income disclosure systems in Nigeria.
#AssetDeclarations

2. To inform the legal and policy discourses around these issues through a good practices manual and other tools.

#AssetDeclarations

A well-defined asset declaration system is a strong tool to fight public sector corruption and abuse of power

Published information on a person's assets allows civil society to hold leaders to account. - Prof. Akinseye-George

If leaders are seen to live beyond their means, an asset declaration can be a starting point for investivation. - Prof. Akinseye-George
#AssetDeclarations

Why Nigeria Asset Declaration system is not effective:
- Non-compliance by most public officials
- Lack of transparent follow-up & verification of declared assets.
- Persistent reluctance of the custodian of the CCB to publish records for public scutiny. - Prof. Akinseye-George

One of the most formidable impediments to the public disclosure of declared assets is the alleged encroachment ofthe rights to privacy and data protection - Prof. Akinseye-George

Failure ,refusal & neglect by CCB to exert its capacity to verify claims made in assets declaration forms of public officials & obstruction of Nigerias who seek access to this information in order to verify the claims made in them is another impediment to the public disclosure

The refusal of the CCB to make available the assets declared by public officials & govt functonaries in consonance with the oppoourtunity provided by FOI Act,among several other normative instruments, is an Achilles' heel in the fight for transparency & accountability in Nigeria.

@nassnigeria made it possible for assets declaration not to be made public, which is rather ironic. - Prof. Akinseye-George,SAN
#AssetDeclarations

Conflicts between the AGF and the anti-corruption agencies seem to stem from that of interest. The AGF is torn between being a politician and an upholder of public interest.- Prof. Akinseye-George,SAN
#AssetDeclarations
#LiveReport

The constitution needs to be re-written to conform to current realities.
The power of appointment & removal of heads of certain agencies should not solely lie on the President.- Prof. Akinseye-George,SAN
#AssetDeclarations

The @CCBNigeria should make it compulsory for all officials to declare their assets and liabilities and verify any account when there are doubts or only for positions with high risk of conflict of interest.

The @CCBNigeria should view the organised civil society and journalists as partners in enthroning transparency and accountability in Nigeria rather than antogonise their efforts. - Prof. Akinseye-George,SAN
#AssetDeclarations
#LiveReport

The @CCBNigeria should deploy information technology in the asset declaration, filing and verification and linking the information from other government agencies and private organisation. - Prof. Akinseye-George,SAN
#AssetDeclarations

The CCB should grant reasonable requests for the disclosure of assets and liabilities declared by public officials. - Prof. Akinseye-George,SAN

The CCB should promote transparency & accountability by granting access for reasonable requests. - Prof. Akinseye-George,SAN

The use of technology can improve the effectiveness & efficiency of asset declaration schemes by increasing compliance &decreasing management costs;reduce human error,increasing the efficacy of the verification process & facilitating public access to asset declaration information

Recommendations:
The leadership of the Executive,legislative and judiciary and senior career civil servants should file asset declarations before and after taking office as well as periodically during office. It should be a routine observance across all tiers of governance

The leadership of the Executive,Legislative & Judiciary and senior career civil servants should establish independent and distinct administrative units to monitor compliance;to collate and publish summaries of submissions from each of the three branches of govt.

The AGF should initiate executive bills to correct flaws in the CCB and to strengthen the proper intepretation of the provisions of the extant laws on assets declaration

The AGF should focus on the verifiability of declared assets, public disclosure and the clarification of 'gifts'. - Prof. Akinseye-George,SAN
#AssetDeclarations

Recommendations to the Judiciary:
- Through proactive intepretation,the courts should pronounce against unduly witheld access and progressively entrench the culture of transparency and accountability in governance.

- The judiciary should change the often-antagonistic attitude of many judges towards lawyers and litigants in anti-corruption matters and assets declaration cases.

- The CJN and other heads of courts should encourage all judges to support the fight against corruption and Initiate Practice directions to guide courts in expediting corruption cases.