2023: CISLAC rallies support for CCB on implementation of online asset declaration

Barely months to the 2023 general elections, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, has called on the government, media and other civil society groups to support the initiative of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, to operationalize online asset declaration for those seeking public offices.

The Chairman of CISLAC, Auwal Rafsanjani who spoke at a virtual meeting during a capacity training for journalists on Tuesday said online asset declaration was necessary for engendering accountability and integrity of public officers.

While urging candidates to ensure full compliance with asset declaration laws by the CCB, Rafsanjani tasked the Bureau on investigating offences of asset declaration to send such offences to the tribunal for trial.

He, however, charged the CCB to go ahead to investigate past leaks around non-compliance with asset declaration when the officers get into office

He regretted that despite 110 prominent Nigerians exposed in 2016 by the Panama leaks, no meaningful action was taken in terms of criminal investigation, prosecution or asset confiscation adding that the only thing government can do is to constitute a Panama papers investigation committee.

“No political price has been incurred by these Nigerian politicians, Military leaders, civil servants implicated by the reports despite the obvious violation of existing legislations and policies regulating assets declaration for political officers and Public servants.” CISLAC Chairman noted