Buhari and Osinbajo have until the end of today to submit their asset declaration forms

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari and vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo have been given a deadline of today to submit their asset declaration forms to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) ahead of the formation of the incoming government.

Tomorrow May 29, the current administration's tenure will come to an end and those who form the new government will be asked to declare their assets upon assumption of office. Given that President Buhari and Professor Osinbajo are so far the only two members of the cabinet, they are expected to lead the way.

Already, the CCB has announced a deadline of today for public officers, whose tenure ends on May 29, to submit their end-of-tenure asset declaration forms. Members of the outgoing eighth National Assembly, who were inaugurated on June 9, 2015, have to declare their assets on or before June 8.

It is mandatory for elected and re-elected public Nigerian officials to fill the forms providing details of all asset owned and acquired before and while in office. Established in 1979, the CCB has as its primary responsibility, the checking of corrupt practices in the Nigerian public service.

State governors must declare their assets before embarking on duties as an executive, while legislators must also do likewise before taking their seats. Yesterday, President Buhari received a new set of Code of Conduct forms, which he will submit today.