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,
Dr. 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.
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