‘Govs have a problem declaring their assets’

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) on Thursday expressed worries over the delay by some state governors to declare their assets, one month after assuming office.

Sam Saba, chairman of CCB, said that while members of the national assembly had been cooperative, he could not say the same of the governors.

“Let me say that we really don’t have problem with members of the national assembly as far as assets declaration is concerned,” he told NAN.

“Also, the president and the vice-president declared their assets before they took oath of office in compliance with schedule seven of the constitution.

“The people we are having problem with now are some governors, but I cannot be categorical in terms of statistics except I confirm.”

Saba blamed the delay on the failure of the governors to study the constitution.

“The governors are not even supposed to start work as political office holders until they declare their assets. It is provided in Section 185 of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria as amended,” he said.

“It reads that: a person elected to the office of a governor of a state shall not begin to perform the function of that office until he has declared his assets and liabilities.”

Saba said that in spite of the fact that the constitution made assets declaration prelude to taking oath of office, some governors took over office without declaring their assets because of ignorance.

“It is not like they are not willing to declare, but because of the erroneous impression that they have up to three months within which to declare their assets and liabilities,” he said.

“But the issue is that they are supposed to have declared before being sworn in as governors.”