The Senate has expanded the responsibilities of one its
Committees to include taking petitions from members of the public on
allegations of corrupt practices in any government establishment across
the country.
Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who stated this
in his speech at the 11th Annual Business Law Conference of the Nigerian
Bar Association – Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) in Lagos, on
Sunday, said the decision was part of its anti-corruption policy aimed
at eradicating the menace in the country.
Saraki, according to a statement by his Chief Press
Secretary, Sanni Onogu, also called on the NBA to partner with the
National Assembly in using amendments of existing laws and introduction
of new legislative proposals aimed to curb corruption.
The Senate President reiterated that the ongoing
anti-corruption war could only succeed if it is devoid of politics even
as he said the anti-graft bodies need more capacity building to enable
them carry out thorough investigations.
Saraki said: “On the issue of corruption, while we have
continued to pursue this issue using our oversight scheme, and for which
there has been remarkable success, we however, think that unless we
innovate and apply smart technology we will not go too far.
“The 8th Senate is expanding its anti-corruption policy by
empowering its committee to now receive corruption petitions. The
National Assembly is also taking another look at the issue of expansive
discretionary powers under our laws that may be contributing to make
corruption fester. We would therefore want you to ponder on this and
work with us to use law amendments and new legislative proposals to
narrow corruption opportunities to the barest minimum.
“Corruption is one area of our national life we cannot
afford to play politics with. On the prosecution of cases, it is clear
that there is a whole lot of more work to be done to ensure we succeed
against corruption. The trend today with the cases we have seen play out
indicates that a lot more work needs to be done to guarantee better
outcome. From the prosecution culture to capacity there is a need for
thorough investigations to take precedence over media sensationalism.
“There may be need for better training and strategy
building. Let me once again charge you as lawyers to help come up with
your ideas on what legislative path we can take to help close the gap,”
he said.
He said that while the 8th Senate has surpassed previous
sessions through the number of bills and legislative interventions, it
has also fulfilled its major promise to open up the affairs of the
National Assembly and publish its budget while also using new
legislation to modernize the economy.
“Our Vision going forward is that with the capital outlay
and regulation it is expected that Nigeria will create 7.5 million jobs
in the next five years owing solely to their infrastructure reforms,”
Saraki said, adding that “to ensure a sound economy, our legal regime
must be equally sound and provide an assuring platform for investors,
entrepreneurs and businesses.”
He noted that the NBA has a great role to play in ensuring
that the objectives of the laws passed by the National Assembly to aid
the economic growth are realized.
“It is upon you who work with these legal instruments and
on whom the business community and the courts will rely on providing the
right advisory that will see to the realization of the full potential
of these laws when signed into law.
“As you deliberate on your conference theme, it will be
good to see the NBA develop new legal culture that will help promote
these new laws for effectiveness. We will like to see new tools for
better commercial contract development and enforcement, conflict
management, private property protection, judicial protection and
security of enterprise,” he said.
He stated that the NBA remains not just a stakeholder but
one of the most critical voice of reason within the nation’s body
polity, hence “the Senate have continued to seek out and engage you for
advice and consultations on national issues.”
He noted that the role the NBA plays in shaping public
perception and the opportunity it offers as a vehicle for promoting good
governance has continued to grow.
“This is why when we opened up consultations and
engagement with the private sector and the wider civil society on our
legislative agenda which has been anchored on the economy, the NBA was
one of our first port of call,” Saraki said.
END
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