Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the
\nActing President Professor Yemi\u00a0Osinbajo to \u201curgently propose a bill that
\nwould specifically regulate and bring transparency to any future
\npresidential library fundraising process, and make public disclosure of
\nmajor donations towards the establishment of any such library mandatory.\u201d<\/p>\n
The organization said that, \u201cOsinbajo should work closely with the
\nleadership of the National Assembly to ensure the speedy passage of any
\nsuch bill into law.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a statement dated 5 March 2017<\/span><\/span> and signed by SERAP Senior Staff The statement reads in part: \u201cProposing bill that would provide \u201cIt\u2019s unfair to Nigerians for a sitting or former president to raise an \u201cWithout openness and transparency, potential donors may seek to use \u201cThe proposed bill should include a requirement to disclose details about \u201cThe bill should also prohibit the making of a contribution through a \u201cFormer President Olusegun Obasanjo would serve public interest by making Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Acting President Professor Yemi\u00a0Osinbajo to \u201curgently propose a bill that would specifically regulate and bring transparency to any future presidential library…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":54691,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-56531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nAttorney Timothy Adewale the organization said: \u201cThe proposed bill would
\ngive Nigerians a better view of major donations going to presidential
\nlibraries, and provide access to information as to whether donors gain any
\nspecial Aso Rock influence. The bill would minimize the potential for a
\nquid pro quo, influence-peddling; and help to build trust and confidence
\namong a citizenry that already questions the ethics of elected officials.\u201d<\/p>\n
\ninformation to Nigerians and allow them to know those who help pay for
\npresidential libraries is not only a matter of public interest but also
\ncrucially important to enhance transparency, accountability and strengthen
\nthis government\u2019s anti-corruption efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nunlimited amount of money for a presidential library and not to have the
\nobligation to publish information on the major contributors. Without
\ntransparency into donations, a president could potentially take an
\nofficial action in exchange for or in expectation of a future donation to
\nhis or her presidential library and the public would be unaware.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nlibrary donations as a means to secure special access or political favours
\nto authorities in Abuja.\u201d<\/p>\n
\neach contributor, the total value of each contribution, the source(s) of
\nthe contribution, and the date of each contribution. Any such information
\nmust be publicly and widely published, including on a website that is free
\nfor the public to access and that is searchable, sortable, and
\ndownloadable.\u201d<\/p>\n
\ncorporation or other legal entity that may be used to conceal the identity
\nof the person actually providing the contribution.\u201d<\/p>\n
\na voluntary disclosure of every single donation, particularly large
\ndonations, to his newly launched presidential library. This would
\ncontribute to greater openness, something that the presidential library
\nseeks to promote about the work and achievements of Obasanjo while in
\ngovernment.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"