Presidential Research & Communications Unit - Rule of Law & Good Governance

President Umaru Musa Yar'adua on June 28 in Abuja made public "photocopies of his duly and honestly completed assets declaration form."

A press release by Special Adviser to the President (Communications), Mr. Segun Adeniyi, showed that President Yar'adua has a total asset and liability value of N856, 452,892 and N88, 793,269.77 respectively.

President Yar’adua's assets include remunerations, savings, campaigns, post-campaign contributions, buildings and vacant plots of land, farms and orchard, cash at hand and vehicles as at June 28, 2007.

The release of the documents is consistent with Mr. President's campaign pledge to work with the leadership of the National Assembly "to see what can be done to make assets declaration an effective weapon in the fight against corruption and abuse of office."

Part of the press release read: "The President notified the Bureau of his intention to make the form available to the public in fulfilment of his campaign pledge, which was borne out of his conviction that the war against corruption cannot have meaning until those at the helms of affairs begin to live by example. The Bureau, while appreciating the noble intention of the President, counselled against the move on the grounds that such an action from the number one citizen would put pressure on other categories of public officers to do same, even when the constitution makes the exercise a confidential matter.

"The dilemma of the President in the last four weeks has therefore been where to strike a balance between the well-meaning concerns of the Bureau, and following his conviction that his campaign pledge to Nigerians is a solemn commitment. Having weighed the two sides, the President has come to the conclusion that since he will not be breaking any law, he cannot go back on his promise to the nation."
The gesture is a first by any of Nigeria's leaders since independence in 1960.

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