Asset Declaration Reform: Tinubu Boosts CCB Funding
By NJORIGE LYNUS
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved a sharp increase in the budget of the Code of Conduct Bureau from about ₦3 billion to nearly ₦20 billion, in a move aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s asset declaration and verification system. The Chairman of the bureau, Dr Abubakar Bello, disclosed the development in Abuja, describing it as a critical step toward strengthening transparency and enforcement.
Bello said the previous funding level left the bureau operating with an outdated, largely manual system that relied on scarce and expensive paper forms. With over 4.5 million public servants nationwide, the bureau struggled to meet demand, especially as the 2025 budget provided only about ₦70 million for printing, enough for just 50,000 to 60,000 forms.
To bridge the gap, the bureau temporarily uploaded asset declaration forms online for public servants to download, a stopgap measure inspired by Kenya’s model. However, Bello said the approach did not address the core problem of manual processing and weak verification.
He revealed that the bureau is now developing a fully digital asset declaration platform, expected to go live in the first quarter of 2026. The system will allow declarations from anywhere in the world and will be integrated with key databases such as the Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Bank Verification Number system and land registries to enable real-time verification.
Bello added that artificial intelligence will be deployed to analyse declarations, track changes in net worth and flag unexplained wealth for further review. He warned that non-compliance could lead to investigation, prosecution and forfeiture, stressing that the bureau’s guiding principle remains “Declare or Forfeit.”
