Nigerian Army officers to declare assets

Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen Tukur Buratai

 The directive to officers of the Nigerian Army to declare their assets was informed by the need to check corruption within the military and also preserve its integrity. This was disclosed by the Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar during an interview with journalist in Abuja on Thursday.

Lt.- Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff, had in a statement made available by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Kukasheka, directed all officers of the Nigerian Army who had not declared their assets to do so immediately.

He added that Buratai had declared his own assets twice in May 2015 and July 2015 on his appointment as Commander, Multinational Joint Task Force and Chief of Army Staff respectively. 

Kukasheka stated, “This directive is in order, considering the fact that all military officers have Presidential Commission and are public servants, as well as subject to both civil and military laws.

"In addition, given the current drive of the country for probity and accountability, the Nigerian Army should not only key into such move but should be one of the key drivers of such laudable project.”

Abubakar continued by saying, “This is a system which is built on discipline. This is a system which is built on integrity; so, any questionable character should be stopped. It doesn’t need to happen before we start shouting. All the loopholes should be blocked.”

The director added that there must be compliance following the issuance of the order and the compliance was in the interest of the nation. 

The fifth Schedule of the constitution states that the President of the Federation, the Vice-President, the President and Deputy President of the Senate, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Houses of Assembly, and all members and staff of legislative houses must declare their assets. 

Others are governors and deputy governors, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justices of the Supreme Court, President and Justices of the Court of Appeal, all other judicial officers and all staff of courts of law; Attorney General of the Federation and Attorney General of each state.

The others required by law also include ministers, the Inspector-General of Police, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, all members of the Nigeria Police Force and other government security agencies established by law as well as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of the Civil Service, permanent secretaries, directors-general and all other persons in the civil service of the federation or of the state.