By Headlinenews.news Desk | Governance & Accountability Analysis.
A question that first entered Nigeria’s political conversation nearly a decade ago has resurfaced with renewed intensity: why has former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, not made his asset declarations publicly available beyond statutory filings?
Though the issue dates back to civic advocacy conversations from 2016, its revival reflects a broader and deepening public demand for transparency among political leaders — particularly those who continue to influence national discourse and political alignments ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
At the centre of the debate lies the legal framework governing asset declaration in Nigeria — one rooted more in constitutional ethics compliance than compulsory public disclosure culture.
Legal Framework: Code of Conduct Requirements
Nigeria’s asset declaration regime is anchored in the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and operationalised through the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
Public officers are mandated to declare assets before assumption of office, periodically while in office, and after leaving office.
The statutory obligation provides that:
“Public officers are required to declare their assets, liabilities, income and interests to the Code of Conduct Bureau.”
The Bureau’s constitutional mandate further states that it is responsible for:
“Receiving asset declarations by public officers… examining the declarations and retaining custody.”
The objective of this framework is institutional integrity and conflict-of-interest monitoring within public service.
Importantly, declarations are submitted to the Bureau — not automatically to the public domain.
Legal interpretation clarifies that asset forms remain under official custody and may only be accessed under regulated conditions:
Declarations are retained by the Bureau and may be made available for inspection “on such terms and conditions as the National Assembly may prescribe.”
This provision establishes a critical distinction: statutory declaration is mandatory, public publication is not.
Consequently, refusal to voluntarily publish assets — while politically contentious — does not automatically constitute a breach of law where filings have been duly made to the Bureau.
Transparency vs Legal Compliance.
Governance transparency advocates argue that legality alone is no longer sufficient in modern democratic accountability culture.
Globally, asset declaration is recognised as a frontline anti-corruption instrument used to detect illicit enrichment and prevent conflicts of interest.
Where declarations are publicly accessible, civic trust tends to be stronger and investigative scrutiny more robust.
It is within this evolving governance expectation that calls have persisted for politically exposed figures — including El-Rufai — to go beyond statutory compliance and embrace voluntary public disclosure.
Supporters of the former governor, however, maintain that legal obligations end with filings to the Code of Conduct Bureau and that selective pressure for public disclosure risks politicising accountability standards.
The National Patriots Movement maintains that no public official, past or present, is above the law.
While asset declaration to the Code of Conduct Bureau is statutory, refusal to embrace broader transparency fuels public distrust.
We urge Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to lead by example through full disclosure, reinforcing accountability, patriotism, and respect for Nigeria’s democratic ethics.
Dr. G. Fraser. MFR
The National Patriots.
