During a recent interview with Sahara TV on Sunday, 12th April, President-elect Muhammadu Buhari said that all his future Ministers must declare their assets before assuming office. The directive will go beyond the Cabinet level Ministers and will apply to State Governors, envoys and permanent secretaries including other senior level appointments of the government.
“All those that were governors, ministers, permanent secretaries, head of foreign staff and all those with political appointments will have to declare their assets on the assumption of their appointment and definitely with the courts. And once they leave they have to re-declare their assets,”
Gen. Buhari had earlier warned against party hoppers from other parties to APC following his victory at the Presidential election recently, saying that they will not be given automatic appointment. Click here if you missed it!
During the interview, Gen. Buhari criticized Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo Iweala for the depletion of the Excess Crude Account. The Finance Minister had earlier explained the depletion was due to the disbursement to the State Governors upon their request.
“I’m afraid the finance minister has no cause to complain because the governors cannot force the central government to act outside the constitution,” Gen. Buhari said.