The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has urged the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to publish declared assets by the public and civil servants.
The Chairman, ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye stated that the secrecy involved in asset declarations by civil and public servants was supporting corruption.
Owasanoye said this during a joint meeting of ICPC and the chairman and board members of CCB.
He said, "Publicizing asset declaration will assist the whistle-blowing policy and our work. We have not been able to take full advantage of asset declaration because of the opacity around it. If somebody lied about his or her assets, he or she can be found out by just opening the page where it has been published".
The ICPC boss also advised the Bureau to review the Assets Declaration Form to include further information like new forms of investments such as cryptocurrency.
Owasonye further advised CCB to consider the digitization of assets declaration because it would also improve the fight against corruption.
He said, "If you digitize asset declaration, it will help you to reach everybody under your cover. It is easily analytical and helps you to know what asset the public servant owes. It will enable you to inform the government about the status of public servants, whether they are doing badly or not."
In his remarks, the Chairman of CCB, Prof. Mohammed Isah insisted that the anti-corruption fight is more effective when there is synergy between relevant agencies.
Isah said," In the areas of overlapping function, who starts investigation of a petition first should be allowed to conclude. The others should stop investigating the same matter to avoid wastage of resources. There is no need to over engage ourselves by doing the same thing."
