The Presidency on Saturday said declaration of assets by public office holders cannot be enforced by President Muhammadu Buhari.

This was stated by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu in an interview.

Shehu said the President cannot compel his ministers and appointees to declare their assets publicly.

He further said the law does not require public office holders to declare their assets publicly.

Shehu said, “The requirement of the law, as far as assets declaration is concerned, is that officials fill out the forms and submit to the Code of Conduct Bureau before they take office and when they leave.

“It is not a requirement of the law that presidents, governors or any such officials should make their (asset) declarations public.

“It then comes down to choice. If they chose to publish it as the President and the Vice President did, it will be considered as purely a personal choice.

“Since the law does not envisage any such public declaration, the administration will be acting outside the laws to force a public disclosure on any official.

“A reporter can go through the Freedom of Information Act to obtain information concerning any such declaration already made.”

Azeez