The Freedom of Information Coalition in Nigeria (FOICN) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to subject individuals to be appointed into his cabinet to declare their assets before they are sworn-in.
Walter Duru, the national coordinator of the coalition, made the appeal while addressing newsmen over the weekend.
Duru, who commended the President for his insistence on running a transparent administration, however, urged him to start with an internal cleansing of his cabinet to set a good example, adding that proper assets declaration by public appointees shall set the stage for effective citizens’ monitoring of their activities.
The coordinator further took a swipe on the country’s anti-corruption agencies, describing them as mere ‘business centres.’
He urged the president to sanitise them; and as well called for the immediate adoption of the Conference Committee Report on the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Centre (NFIC) Bill, being delayed by the outgoing House of Representatives.
He said, “The president must ensure that all those to work with him declare their assets openly to enable Nigerians monitor them. It is unfortunate that our anti-graft agencies are not living up to expectations. The EFCC has not impressed Nigerians. The Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal are not working. The Code of Conduct Tribunal has not sat for about three years now. Is it that no public office holder in Nigeria has breached public confidence and trust? The ICPC can perform better.”
He continued, “The surest way forward is a total overhaul of the anti-graft agencies. All the corrupt elements must be shown the way out and of course, prosecuted. The Police must return to the Barracks and allow the EFCC space to function. Having over 700 policemen in the employ of EFCC is unacceptable. A mechanism should also be put in place to monitor the activities of the anti-graft agencies.”
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