MONROVIA, Montserrado – Montserrado’s Senator Darius Dillon has released information on his assets and liability to the public, after declaring it to the Senate during his induction on August 16.
Dillon also promised to work with the Senate’s secretary to have published his declaration on or before Monday, August 19. But the senator did not fulfill his promise until one week after the deadline he promised.
The Montserrado senator did not respond to a Bush Chicken’s inquiry to provide reasons for the delay, but the Senate secretary, Nanborlor Singbeh told The Bush Chicken that Singbeh did not have the authority to publish the senator’s assets declaration. Singbeh advised Dillon to do so through the court.
However, the Senate secretary released the declaration through the press.
According to documents released in the public, the senator has a total of US$76,000 value in current and fixed assets. It includes a house in Gardnersville worth US$35,000, a US$40,000 vehicle, a total bank saving of US$181 (US$3.50 in one account and L$20,000 in another).
The lawmaker declared that he has no additional properties, extra income, and liabilities prior to becoming a senator.
The Code of Conduct for public officials requires government employees involved in making decisions affecting contracting, tendering, or procurement, and issuance of licenses of various types to declare their income, assets, and liabilities prior to taking office.
Although the law does not mandate for public officials to publish their assets declarations, the lawmaker said he did so believing that morality and ethics for leadership must guide officials of government as rational leaders to publish their assets and liability. He said he had come to serve his people and has nothing to hide, but to lead with transparency and accountability.
He has also promised to provide to the public his total monthly income upon receiving his first salary.
“We declared our assets and liabilities the day we were inducted into office. Today, we published for public information. Next, we will publicly state our monthly income, when we receive same,†he wrote on his Facebook page on Monday.
The lawmaker had previously promised to take only US$5,000 of his salary and remit the balance for development of the county he represents.
Editor’s note: a previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Sen. Dillion directly released his asset declaration to the press.
Featured photo by Ida Reeves
