Declare Your Assets Now, FENRAD Tells 18 Governorship Candidates In Abia

Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development, FENRAD a pro-democracy has written the governorship candidates of 18 registered political parties in Abia state, urging them to declare their assets.

The anti-corruption & human rights advocacy group says by availing Abians a copy of their asset declaration form from the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, the candidates will be fulfilling the law of the federation (Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, as amended).

FENRAD in a statement on Sunday said this will enhance accountability.

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“It is our thinking that it is appropriate for all the gubernatorial candidates aspiring for governorship positions under the support of the registered 18 political parties in the state to make this disclosure in the interest of accountability and transparency. This letter was informed by the current economic realities confronting Abia State, which, to us, require that aspirants show that when elected the resources of the state will be managed effectively and due process followed with mechanism for Accountability.

“Currently, Abia has fallen on hard times, in a manner not known before. The situation was compounded by the fall in oil prices following the pandemic. Even though oil prices had since risen following the war in Ukraine, Nigeria is not able to rake in revenue due to subsidy payments, oil theft, and sundry issues that have made the NNPC (now a limited company) unable to remit to the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC. Worst is, Abia, in the face of all these, has not upped its independent source of revenue to at least ₦5 billion monthly, an idea FENRAD thinks is possible should the state expand its tax base (not by introducing new or increasing payable taxes), build infrastructure, integrate informal sector businesses and look more inward. The result is that deficits and shortfalls continue to constrain and hamper budgetary performance,” FENRAD says.

FENRAD noted that the issue of non-payment of salaries and wages for which some tertiary state institutions lost their accreditation is worrisome.

“Only few months ago, senior citizens took to the streets to drive home their demands over twenty-year outstanding gratuity arrears. State parastatals and institutions like Abia State University Teaching Hospital and so many others had remained shut down because of poor funding. Most recently the Nigeria Medical Association threatened to strike in solidarity to residents and Doctors in the state due to a backlog of unpaid salaries and wages.

“Abia state past administrations since 1999 are still answering cases of corruption with the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over issues of misappropriation of public funds and fiscal recklessness.

“It is our considered opinion that Abia state cannot continue in her old ways. So we call on all Gubernatorial political aspirants for the 2023 elections, including you, to do the needful. Even though this exercise (asset declaration) should come upon assumption of office but is submitted during the expression of interest to contest for the position..we wish to remind you that it is needful and will go a long way in making a case for your integrity and accountability. It is also the basis on which FENRAD as an anti-corruption advocacy organization and other civil society groups in Abia will make informed political decisions going forward.”

FENRAD says it’s ready to enter into full litigation in line with the anti-corruption instruments and will join the Code of conduct bureau (CCB) if the Asset declaration process is not adhered according to the provision in the law.