EXCLUSIVE: Jonathan’s secret assets deny Nigeria membership of global anti-corruption body – PREMIUM TIMES



Goodluck Jonathan


The refusal of President Goodluck Jonathan and other public officials to publicly declare their assets as required by law, has been pointed as the chief reason Nigeria has been denied membership of the Open Government Partnership, an influential global anti-corruption initiative backed by major nations.


The partnership was launched by world leaders in 2011 to ensure governments’ commitment to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption and use new technologies to strengthen governance.
Its membership has grown from eight countries to 60 countries in just two years, and is now viewed as a mark of a country’s high transparency standard.
While Nigeria was spurned, six African countries have been admitted to the prestigious body. They are Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and South Africa.

Jack Mahoney, the partnership’s Program Associate, told PREMIUM TIMES in an email that despite showing an interest, Nigeria has failed to make the cut to be accepted as a member.
“Nigeria is very close to eligibility, but has not yet reached the necessary score. At last count performed in March 2013, the Nigerian Government scored an 11/16, and is therefore one point away from the 12/16 minimum score required for countries to be eligible to join,” he said.
Top on the list of the reasons given why Nigeria is still falling short is the blatant refusal of President Jonathan, alongside other public officials, to publicly declare their assets.
Last year, during a media chat, Mr Jonathan showed utter disregard for transparency when he declared he was not going to declare his assets publicly.
“The issue of asset declaration is a matter of principle. I don’t give a damn about it, if you want to criticise me from heaven. The issue of public declaration I think is playing to the gallery. You don’t need to publicly declare any assets.

If I am somebody who wants to hide it is what I tell you that you will even believe,” the president said.
Mr Mahoney also told PREMIUM TIMES that for country to be accepted as a member, it needs to publish its annual Audit Report measured by the Open Budget Index (OBI).
The OBI measures the state of budget transparency, participation, and oversight in countries around the world.
Last year, Nigeria’s budget scored a woeful 16 point out of 100 leaving the country at the 80th position out of the 100 countries surveyed. With 93 points, New Zealand was rated as the country with the most transparent budget followed by South Africa with 90 points.
Mr Mahoney said Nigeria needs to also improve its score in the Democracy Index (DI) to be considered for membership. The DI is compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit and it measures the state of democracy in 167 countries base on 60 indicators grouped in five different categories: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, functioning of government, political participation, and political culture. In 2012, DI Nigeria was ranked the 7th most terrorised country in the world.
Three Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) have called the federal government to task over the inability of the country to qualify as a member of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) membership.
Media Rights Agenda (MRA), BudgIT Nigeria, and Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) say “Nigeria’s inability to meet OGP’s eligibility requirements constitutes a major slur on the country’s image and reputation, particularly in the light that six other African countries are already members of the OGP.”
The groups therefore advised the government to do the following to be accepted as a member of the OGP:
1. “Ensure that audit reports of public accounts, particularly by the Auditor-General of the Federation, are proactively disclosed and made available to members of the public.
2. Ensure that incomes of all categories of public officers are proactively disclosed as required by Section 2(3) (d) (vi) of the Freedom of Information Act and other applicable laws.
3. The Code of Conduct Bureau should bring itself into compliance with the Freedom of Information Act by acceding to requests from members of the public for it to disclose asset declarations in its custody submitted by elected and senior government officials, which constitute information maintained by it as a public institution within the meaning of the Act.
4. Improve citizen participation and civic engagement in policy-making and in all aspects of governance, including around the issue of Nigeria’s membership of the OGP.”

berem: One man's ignorance and arrogance has denied Nigeria membership in the Global anti-corruption body? Not only him precisely but anyone who has benefitted directly or indirectly through him as a result of corruption. When Nigeria was tagged highest user of private jets,it looked like a major achievement to the corrupt people in government despite the fact that poverty still dwells in the land.

So how does he intend to fight corruption alone when he has refused to declare his asset? A President who stupidly said corruption is the 3rd problem Nigeria has. When asked to mention the first 2, he simply said "go and ask the Minister of Finance. A president who dumbly said Corruption occurs in a wedding too? Smh

I only but weep for my country!

berem: One man's ignorance and arrogance has denied Nigeria membership in the Global anti-corruption body? Not only him precisely but anyone who has benefitted directly or indirectly through him as a result of corruption. When Nigeria was tagged highest user of private jets,it looked like a major achievement to the corrupt people in government despite the fact that poverty still dwells in the land.

So how does he intend to fight corruption alone when he has refused to declare his asset? A President who stupidly said corruption is the 3rd problem Nigeria has. When asked to mention the first 2, he simply said "go and ask the Minister of Finance. A president who dumbly said Corruption occurs in a wedding too? Smh

I only but weep for my country!

Idi Amin: And if I may ask u Ode, what are the benefits of joining the useless organization in the first place. Park well my friend

Gbawe: The groups therefore advised the
government to do the following to be
accepted as a member of the OGP:
2. Ensure that incomes of all categories of
public officers are proactively disclosed as
required by Section 2(3) (d) (vi) of the
Freedom of Information Act and other
applicable laws.
3. The Code of Conduct Bureau should bring
itself into compliance with the Freedom of
Information Act by acceding to requests
from members of the public for it to disclose
asset declarations in its custody submitted
by elected and senior government officials,

NL member:

He is even breaking the law by refusing to declare assets yet he is nonchalantly dismissing his action as if it isn't a big deal.

Criminal oshi.

Idi Amin: And if I may ask u Ode, what are the benefits of joining the useless organization in the first place. Park well my friend

berem: You just displayed your stoopidity at a level it cannot be tamed. You have been crowned a first class idiooot for saying there are no benefits of joining the organization. What more can I say? Do I really blame you,no I don't! Now phuck off before I spit on you!

berem: You just displayed your stoopidity at a level it cannot be tamed. You have been crowned a first class idiooot for saying there are no benefits of joining the organization. What more can I say? Do I really blame you,no I don't! Now phuck off before I spit on you!

jmaine:



Can we stop bitching around and discuss this issue holistically. Lets even assume the so called group has any meaningful contribution.

While your all ignorantly bashing GEJ cos he broke no law, can we now safely apply the the same tar used on GEJ on Other Public officials.

Top on the list of the reasons given why Nigeria is still falling short is the blatant refusal of President Jonathan, alongside other public officials, to publicly declare their assets.
Last year, during a media chat, Mr Jonathan showed utter disregard for transparency when he declared he was not going to declare his assets publicly.

jmaine:



Can we stop bitching around and discuss this issue holistically. Lets even assume the so called group has any meaningful contribution.

While your all ignorantly bashing GEJ cos he broke no law, can we now safely apply the the same tar used on GEJ on Other Public officials.

tomakint: This is one of those meaningless threads meant for the trash can, I wondered how Jonathan not declaring his asset will impede his flow of successes in governance since he assumed office in 2010 now roads, power, basic amenities, electoral reforms, FDI, agricultural, financial, transportation, educational, manufactural sectors have all received major boosts and some clowns are brazenly displaying their gross ineptitude in governance here just to score some cheap points!

Idi Amin: And if I may ask u Ode, what are the benefits of joining the useless organization in the first place. Park well my friend

Open government is the governing doctrine which holds that citizens have the right to access the documents and proceedings of the government to allow for effective public oversight.[1] In its broadest construction it opposes reason of state and other considerations, which have tended to legitimize extensive state secrecy. The origins of open government arguments can be dated to the time of the European Enlightenment: to debates about the proper construction of a then nascent democratic society.

tomakint: This is one of those meaningless threads meant for the trash can, I wondered how Jonathan not declaring his asset will impede his flow of successes in governance since he assumed office in 2010 now roads, power, basic amenities, electoral reform[/b]s, FDI, agricultural, financial, [b]transportation, educational, manufactural sectors have all received major boosts and some clowns are brazenly displaying their gross ineptitude in governance here just to score some cheap points!

agba-Mental-Oshi:



Jamiu, setting good example as the president of Nigeria and as the chief law enforcement officer of the federal republic of Nigeria goes a long way especially from a clueless president whose best utterance regarding corruption in Nigeria = Corruption is not our problem and it's only a figment of our imagination aka perceptions..

His actions encourages corruption from surrounding himself with crooks and convicts to pardoning convicted criminals and fugitives.

He controls the efcc, but the efcc under GEJ is just a waste basket sucking away taxpayers money with nothign to show for it, but we still have corruption raging and public funds despairing everyday unabated..

The man himself is mentally corrupt and his body language too remains corrupt and his administration is the most corrupt in the history of Nigeria.


This latest news is another major indictment..

berem: One man's ignorance and arrogance has denied Nigeria membership in the Global anti-corruption body? Not only him precisely but anyone who has benefitted directly or indirectly through him as a result of corruption. When Nigeria was tagged highest user of private jets,it looked like a major achievement to the corrupt people in government despite the fact that poverty still dwells in the land.

So how does he intend to fight corruption alone when he has refused to declare his asset? A President who stupidly said corruption is the 3rd problem Nigeria has. When asked to mention the first 2, he simply said "go and ask the Minister of Finance. A president who dumbly said Corruption occurs in a wedding too? Smh

I only but weep for my country!

jmaine:



Can we stop bitching around and discuss this issue holistically. Lets even assume the so called group has any meaningful contribution.

While your all ignorantly bashing GEJ cos he broke no law, can we now safely apply the the same tar used on GEJ on Other Public officials.

jmaine:

The usual nonsense from a depraved maggot.


Yes, GEJ is the sole reason why all public officials including your god decided not to declare his assets publicly.

Never knew GEJ has the capacity to influence your god to act otherwise.

What a clueless maggot . . .

eGuerrilla: @Gbawe, it is simply that our membership of OGP is not too far off now. It is only a matter of time before those who currently bask in a state of ignorance become better enlightened about their civic responsibilities.



What is Open Government?

Sincere 9gerian:
Its the usual NOISE and nothing more. If its not noise, then the NASS should amend the laws to make it mandatory for ALL public office holders to declare their assets PUBLICLY. Public declaration of assets by the president alone, apart from supplying haters with more tools for propaganda, does not in anyway help the war against corruption in the country. Except someone can explain to us how the public asset declaration by Yar Adua helped the war against corruption in Nigeria.

A law must be passed (or the existing one amended) to make it mandatory for the president, vice president, all the governors, legislators, ministers, etc to declare their assets publicly.

Although the president can sponsor executive bills to the NASS but responsibility of lawmaking rest mostly with the NASS. In fact, that is why members of the NASS earn huge salaries and allowances.