The Usual Trend:
Once
upon a time was an individual whom prior to occupying political office was struggling
to make ends means, or perhaps living a life with no affluence not befitting to
be in the category of the big boys
in the society.
Then
the election comes forth and he/she perceives that as an opportunity to break
even, to meet all his or her material and financial ends, entailing an
opportunity to drive the best of cars, acquire the luxurious of properties all over the world and of course,
an opportunity to have “swelling bank
accounts”.
Changing
this mindset is the first of many steps in achieving efficiency of service to
the people and efficiency in resource allocation for the countless projects
embarked by the government.
For
example, the spate of wastages in government expenditure, as evident by the
alarming incomplete projects sprawling across the country (Nigeria) is one of
worry, depleting the chances of a bright future for generations unborn. An
example in this vain is the report by The Punch, Nigeria, as thus “a
finding in 2011 by the Presidential Projects Assessment Committee led by
Architect Ibrahim Bunu, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, had
reported that there are 11,886 abandoned capital projects which will require
N7.78 trillion to complete.” < http://www.punchng.com/opinion/continuity-of-project-implementation/>
It
should be noted that the staggering numbers of wastages is not attributed to
the government being broke but corruption, encouraged by the fact that these
contract awarders (Government officials) would not be checked neither would
they be held responsible for a shoddy contract executed nor incomplete project
implemented. To cut it short, the lacking accountability factor is to blame for
such excesses.
These
all said, this work would focus on the need for asset declaration to be
employed as a root tool to tackle corruption.
Attaining
Efficiency in Asset Declaration:
Every
government functionary, especially the elected and appointed by the elected
(referring to the Ministers, commissioners e.t.c.) must be financially checked
and investigated prior to being in such ‘exalted’ office and sequel to leaving,
as this is one of the many steps in fighting corruption. In achieving the
aforementioned, the urgency of monitoring the financial excesses by these
individuals should not be ignored, as this would be one of the many steps to mitigate
corruption, thereby ensuring that accountability is attained.
However,
the benefits of assets declaration are numerous as it increases the
transparency levels in the country, thereby promoting the integrity of the few
tasked with leading the majority in the nation.
In
achieving an efficient Asset Declaration Scheme that would combat
souring corruption levels, it is expedient to identify four asset
declaration phases.
These are:
·
Declaration
of assets prior to winning political power: Upon being declared winner at the
polls, every winner, at all levels of government in which election is contested
must declare his or her assets. The benefit of this is that upon assuming
political office, the financial excesses by these anticipated leaders would be
exposed and save the nation from an intending looter.
·
Declaration
of asset prequel to re-contesting a political office:
Any individual
interested having an extension of national service, with respect to re-contesting
the political office occupied by him or one different one must submit his or
her assets for verification to the appropriate financial crime regulatory
institution (EFCC/ICPC in Nigeria), which should be independent from the
legislative and Executive arm of government to devoid such findings from
manipulations.
·
Declaration
of Asset sequel to leaving political office: Upon vacating a political office
either at the expiration of one’s term, impeachment, sack or loss at the polls
or voluntary decision not to shrug it out at the polls, every individual must
have his or her asset declared. This has the focal advantage of discouraging
corrupt activities by those whose primary aim of getting into power is to
enrich their pockets. In addition, attaching harsh penalties to such activities
is very pivotal, as the level of harshness of the punishment strengthens the
efficacy of the asset declaration system in place and
·
Third
party Check: Except when deemed necessary, the
check of assets of close ties to the individuals being investigated should be
employed. This stage is that to be employed when the asset put forward by the
individual with questionable financial dealings is deemed to be inaccurate and deceitful
to the state. Third party checks could also include: close relations, with
respect to nuclear and extended families; business partners and other
individuals considered to be allies with the questionable individual.
The aforementioned is expedient,
due to camouflage assets that may be declared by some.
More
to Asset Declaration:
In achieving efficacy in Asset
Declaration, the following should be closely considered:
The
Nature of the Asset Declaration Laws:
This entails the frequency (like discussed earlier) to which such assets are to
be declared; if such assets should be made to the public; when deemed
questionable, if the investigations would be made to the public and the
punishment meted to individuals found guilty of embezzling government funds.
The
Banking System:
The efficiency through which Banks and other financial institutions in a nation
are monitored could help ease the investigation of individuals with
questionable monetary assets, as financial transactions in their stead would closely
be observed.
Immunity
Clause: No
government functionary, irrespective of position should be protected by the
immunity clause, in such the immunity clause should be abolished. In Nigeria for
example, the immunity clause has over the years been an umbrella in protecting
government officials found wanting of corrupt practises.
It is imperative to note that a
zero immunity clause would be a remarkable way of achieving efficiency in
government.
In my words, immunity clause is
nothing but a corruption covering umbrella. .
Some Deep
Thoughts:
It
is imperative to note that the efficiency of asset declaration in a given
geographical location is dependent on the nature of the system in place, comprising
the available laws and individuals in all arms of government.
By
the laws in this respect, the frequency to which individuals in government are
mandated to have their assets declared and investigated would go a long way in
mitigating illicit financial activities and of course corrupt practices. In
addition, a zero or poor asset declaration practice system would propel their desire
to what I perceive as serving their pockets as against the people.
A
pocket serving government
is one whose primary motive of occupying political office is the enrichment of him
or herself rather than meeting the needs of the general populace while a people
serving government, though rarely practiced, is that guided by a zero
tolerance of corruption with meeting the needs of the people its strongest
guide to measuring its effectiveness.
I
believe that no government can directly meet all the needs of the
people, as doing so would in the long run, financially run the government down
but indirectly
vis-à-vis the provision of a friendly economy and the needed
infrastructural impetus like regular power supply; good roads and an efficient transport
system; clean and friendly laws expedient to drive Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI) which would ultimately provide the enabling environment for the citizenry
to be their government and as thus provide their immediate needs.
In
my closing words, the growing trend of corruption in government is the basis
for the attraction of mediocre to serve the people.
