Senate: We’re Complementing Anti-Corruption Fight, Not Mocking It

The Nigerian Senate has said that is the complementing the anti-corruption fight of President Muhammadu Buhari, contrary to the view from some quarters that the Red chamber is mocking the anti-graft.

A statement by the Senate’s spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullah, said the lawmakers are working to strengthen the anti-corruption process and institutions for increasing the efficiency of the war.

Abdullah said the upper chamber acknowledged the successes and achievements recorded so far by President Buhari’s administration in the bid to eradicate corruption.

Abdullahi said that his colleagues admitted that a lot has been done in the last two years to eliminate the vice of corruption from the national psyche.

He said: “Available facts point to the fact that the 8th Senate is really complementing the efforts of the executive arm in order to achieve better results.

“On Wednesday this week alone, two anti-corruption bills passed the second reading stage in the Senate and were referred to relevant committees for further action. The bills are : 1) the Proceeds of Crime Bill and 2.) Assets Forfeiture Bill. Both bills are private member bills sponsored by Senators. A third anti-corruption bill is already in the works.

“Also, on Wednesday, the Senate passed a motion in which it resolved that all statutory corporations should submit their budget estimates within two weeks and should refrain from spending money on capital projects.

“This is a strong move to block loopholes through which revenues due to government are being siphoned. That is sure one of the boldest moves to stop corruption in revenue generating agencies.

He stated that with all the moves, Senators were backing their talk on fight against corruption with tangible action.

“Therefore, mischief makers who want to logging the heads of the executive and the legislature should desist from their dirty antics.

“These two arms are working from different angles to achieve a common purpose. The goal to eliminate corruption is shared by both arms of government”, he said.