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Net widens for assets declaration, amendments to law under way
View(s):Amendments are being drafted to make assets declaration compulsory for all public servants, owners and officials of electronic media institutions, officials of civil society organisations, including non-governmental organisations. In terms of the new amendments to the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Act 1975, No 1, executive and judicial branch officials, MPs, all government servants, provincial councils members, personal staff of public representatives, employees of institutions supported fully or partially from public money, all constitutionally appointed members, employees of state-owned institutions, whether they are appointed by the Government or not, permanent or temporary, receive salaries from the Government or not, should declare their assets and liabilities.
The assets and liabilities declaration requirement which applies to owners and directors of newspaper institutions will be extended to owners, officials and journalists of all electronic media institutions. All the officials of civil society organisations including non-governmental organisations which depend on public money or funds from foreign organisations will be required to declare assets and liabilities under the new law.
These amendments were being drafted to eliminate bribery and corruption, to bring in transparency in public service and improve its integrity, a senior official said.
He said the amendments were part of the moves to bring in the country’s bribery and corruption laws in step with the United Nations Convention against corruption.