To aides, Ikpeazu says asset declaration is required

Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, has stated that public officials must declare their assets.

The governor, who received a delegation from Mr. Abel Sunday, the newly-appointed state Director of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), who visited him at the Government Lodge in Aba, told public office holders that declaring their assets is not only proper, but also mandatory before they begin to function in their official capacities.

Ikpeazu, who directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and relevant officers to ensure that every public officer complies with the constitutional requirement for asset declaration, said that no public officer will be sworn in unless there is evidence that he or she has declared his or her assets.

The governor, on the other hand, urged the Code of Conduct Bureau to play an enabler role by finding ways to encourage people to willingly declare their assets through capacity building, seminars, and other means.

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Despite its role as a watchdog, he believes the CCB should maintain a friendly demeanor in order to avoid scaring people away, noting that he recognizes the bureau’s critical role in holding public officials accountable.

Sunday said he came to see the governor and ask for his help in fighting corruption in the state and throughout Nigeria.

He said that while some public office holders in the state have declared their assets, others have yet to do so, despite the fact that the constitution requires them to do so both before and after taking office.

The head of the CCB assured the governor that his office would work with the state government to “ensure that public officers do the right thing under our laws.”