https://twitter.com/MobilePunch/status/702306962919141377



The House of Representatives is seeking to remove the Code of Conduct Bureau from the control of the President in a bid to strengthen the independence of the bureau.

A bill for an Act to Amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 2004 passed second reading at the House in Abuja on Tuesday.

It was co-sponsored by Mr. Nicholas Osai (Delta State) and Mr. Edward Pwajok (Plateau State).




The House noted that by being under the Presidency, the bureau’s role in fighting corruption was limited due to a lack of independence.

Among others, the amendments seek to make the declaration of assets by public officials “mandatory” before assumption of office.

Pwajok, in his brief on the proposed amendments, stated, “The amendments among other things seek to remove the bureau from the control of the President, makes it mandatory to subscribe to the Oath of Office, declare assets and liabilities to the bureau before assumption of office by public officers.

“Also providing a renewable fixed tenure for the bureau just like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, and strengthening the bureau by giving it power to engage their own solicitors or external solicitors.”

He also observed that there was an urgent need to expand the CCB and the tribunal to have the capacity to adjudicate on corruption cases speedily.

The lawmaker said, “The intention of establishing the bureau was good but the implementation of the law has revealed some lacunae.

“For example, between 2005 and 2006, tens of thousands of public officers were arraigned before the CCT for violating various laws.

“It is obvious that one tribunal cannot effectively cope with that number of cases.”

Defending the bill, Osai cited Section 10(1), which he said, would remove the “veil of corruption by proxy”, whereby a public officer could engage “somebody as an agent for corruption purposes.”

He added, “The amendments sought in this bill tend to support the fight against corruption by the Federal Government and the bill, if passed into law, would have internally re-positioned the mindset of public officials towards their official duties.”

Many members, including the House Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, spoke in support of the bill.

They said any law that had the objective of fighting corruption would receive the support of the House.

The session was presided over by the Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

Copyright PUNCH.

Lol

Very dumb people. They don't know about timing.

And so?