House Sends Subsidy Report to AGF, EFCC, ICPC

11 May 2012

Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Zakari Mohammed

By Onwuka Nzeshi   

The House of Representatives Thursday said it had sent the report of its Ad hoc Committee on Monitoring  Fuel Subsidy Regime to the executive arm of government through the office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

The lower chamber of the National Assembly has also sent copies of the report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other relevant agencies.

Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, who disclosed this at the weekly media briefing Thursday, said the House was in possession of evidences showing that these organs of government have received the report.

Mohammed also said the supplementary report expected from the two-week extension of the subsidy investigation would be forwarded to these same authorities as soon as the report was ready.

On the forthcoming amendments to the Constitution, the chairman said the House was committed to the financial autonomy for the legislature at the state and local council levels.

According to him, an independent legislature whose budgetary allocations was placed on the first line charge would be an asset in the fight against corruption.

“The state assemblies have a duty to the Nigerian people who elected them and they can only discharge that responsibility when they are independent and free from the over bearing influence of state governors,” he said.

Mohammed who also reacted to the vexed issue of immunity clause in the 1999 Constitution said the House would be guided by wishes and aspirations of the citizenry on the matter.

He explained that the decision on whether immunity clause for the President, Vice-President, Governors and their deputies should be expunged or not lies with the people.

“In a democracy, power belongs to the people. If it is the opinion of Nigerians that the immunity clause should go, so be it. After all there are opinions that the removal of immunity clause may reduce corruption,” he said.

SOURCE: ThisDay, 11 May 2012. http://www.thisdaylive.com/