Post a comment
In a public notice released on January 26, 2024, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has called on all public officers to declare their income, assets, and liabilities by the looming deadline of March 31, 2024. This reminder is in accordance with Section 119 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008, amended in 2019, which mandates public officers to submit declarations every two years and upon assuming or leaving office.
The ACC emphasizes that the declaration process is compulsory for various categories of public officers, encompassing individuals in elective offices, those appointed by the President, public officers in grade 7 and above, and those below grade 7 with financial responsibilities such as bursars. Teachers in government and government-assisted schools, including principals, vice principals, head teachers, deputy head teachers, and bursars, fall under the purview of this directive.
Moreover, newly appointed or elected officials, including paramount chiefs and court chairmen, are obliged to declare their financial standing. Former public officers are also not exempted from this obligation, as they are required to disclose their income, assets, and liabilities to the Commission.
For individuals who declared in 2023 for the 2022 Declaration Year, the ACC underscores that they must fulfill this requirement once again for the year 2024, ensuring compliance with the March 31 deadline.
All declarations are to be completed online through the Commission’s dedicated website, www.anticorruption.gov.sl or assets.anticorruption.gov.sl.
To facilitate the registration process, ministries, departments, and agencies are encouraged to establish official emails for new registrants, while those with existing login credentials can utilize the same information.
The ACC emphasizes the serious consequences for non-compliance or providing false information. According to Section 122A (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, a public officer failing to submit the Assets Declaration Form without reasonable cause or knowingly providing false, inaccurate, or misleading information may face administrative sanctions. These sanctions include directives to withhold salaries, pensions/benefits, suspension, dismissal, and even criminal prosecution.
The Commission urges public officers to treat this matter with the utmost seriousness, emphasizing the importance of maintaining transparency and accountability within the public sector. As the March 31 deadline approaches, the ACC encourages timely submission to avoid the severe consequences outlined in the Anti-Corruption Act.
