The Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Sam Saba, has said the bureau has no legal powers to publicise assets declared by public officers.
Mr. Saba told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday that the mandate of the bureau was to ensure that the assets were declared and verified.
He said the bureau has no power to make public details of President Muhammadu Buhari’s asset.
“We do not have power to make the assets declared by the president public,” he said.
He however recalled that the president had assured he will make the declaration public later.
“The president has in a statement through his media aide said he will make his submissions public after the bureau has verified within his first 100 days in office,” he said.
President Buhari has yet to declare his assets publicly as he pledged while campaigning for office.
Amid criticisms, the president explained that the details would be made public after CCB verifies his claims.
“The CCB does not have the right to make anybody’s assets declaration available on pages of newspaper or online,” he said.
Mr. Saba attributed the failure of some public officers to declare their assets in line with the law to lack of the knowledge on the constitution of the country.
“My message for public office holders is to study the constitution because I think in this country, we have poor reading habits.
“Most people come into public office in ignorance. They don’t know what the law provides and so, by the time you show them, they will tell you they do not know,” he added.
According to him, some public officers are also not aware that they are not supposed to operate foreign bank account.
“All these should have been taken into considerations when seeking election or appointment into public office.
“I believe that if people have read all these and are aware, it will help them to take a decisions that will help them to serve the people,” he added. (NAN)

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