NASS pledges support for Buhari's anti-corruption fight

• Published date: 07 August 2009
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, has said that the National Assembly is working to strengthen the country's anti-graft laws.

Speaking while receiving representatives of the Good Leadership Advocacy for Africa (GLAFA), Omo-Agege said that the Ninth Assembly will continue to give President Muhammadu Buhari the necessary support in his fight against corruption.

Omo-Agege who doubles as the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, in Abuja, pointed out that this explains why the National Assembly intervenes whenever some government agencies appear to be veering off the normal course.

Omo-Agege said: 'Talking about corruption, there has been an argument that we should make more laws and make punishments more stringent.

'Of course, there is also a school of thought which argues that we have enough laws but that we need to create incentives for those who are doing the investigations, arrests and prosecution so that they can see this as a really worthwhile effort without any top official hindering their work.

'Reassurances will go a long way to help but indeed there are lacunae that can be addressed with new laws like what we have done with the Sexual Harassment Bill because it was becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to prosecute crimes in that area as it was difficult to have the victim step forward for obvious reasons.

'Our job at the National Assembly is to assist President Buhari in strengthening these institutions, knowing full well that he will not be here forever. The National Assembly is strengthening the anti-corruption laws including the EFCC, ICPC enabling acts among others.'

The Delta Central lawmaker expressed appreciation for the organisation's acknowledgement that the National Assembly leadership has not been involved in the humongous corruption being uncovered at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and other government agencies.

According...