A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Mohammed Ndarani, on Wednesday, urged the Federal Government to bar civil servants from contesting any elective position for at least one year after their retirement.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/idrinstitute.png")
According to him, this period would allow anti-corruption agencies to conduct a forensic examination of their assets in comparison to what they declared before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
“Although the Code of Conduct was put in place to check public office holders from looting the treasury while in office, sadly, it has not been effective enough,” he lamented.
He therefore called on President Bola Tinubu to apply the provisions of Section 315 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) “to prevent Nigeria from electing corrupt leaders into political offices come 2027.”
In a statement made available to newsmen, Mr. Ndarani said:
“Another round of elections and the accompanying campaigns are practically upon us. People with political ambitions are already entering the race, from the local government level to the presidency.
“These will be exciting times, but Nigerians are losing sight of a fundamental flaw in the process. Among those expected to emerge as political candidates are, as is often the case, retired civil servants or those who resigned from public service or political appointments.
“In Nigeria, public servants are required to declare their assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau. However, the question remains: after they leave service, what happens? Are their post-service assets routinely investigated against what they declared at the start of their careers? Sadly, this is hardly ever done except in exceptional cases.
“The tendency for public servants to plunder the nation’s treasury with impunity, often to fund future political campaigns, is alarming. This practice intensifies as retirement approaches. Many amass vast sums to finance election campaigns, ultimately seeking political positions that enhance their ability to further exploit national resources, often with little accountability.
“Nigerian politics is seen as a winner-takes-all venture, often disregarding laws. The Electoral Act 2022 sets limits on election expenses under Section 88(2-7), but these are routinely ignored. Officials often refuse to declare assets or comply with the Code of Conduct, contributing to high levels of corruption in public service.
“Political office holders frequently enter office with modest assets but leave with immense wealth. Public funds intended for development projects are diverted into personal accounts. This must stop if Nigeria is to make progress.”
As part of his recommendations, Mr. Ndarani said there is a need to ensure all public servants are investigated upon retirement. Political office holders should also be examined, whether seeking a second tenure or not, to determine the sources of their assets and income.
“This is particularly necessary when individuals are found to have amassed wealth that could not possibly have come from legitimate means. Politics is an expensive undertaking everywhere, and Nigeria is no exception. Anyone who retires from public service and immediately enters partisan politics deserves forensic examination.
“All heads of MDAs who are retired or relieved of their positions should also be investigated, whether they are contesting for office or not. Corruption remains one of the greatest obstacles to Nigeria’s development. Stronger accountability measures are required to ensure public resources are not misused or diverted into private hands.
“Nigerians deserve leaders who live modestly, account for every naira spent, and prioritize the nation’s welfare above personal gain,” he concluded.
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