Bill to establish Anti Corruption Agency passes second reading in Kogi Assembly
By Odimayo Olatunde Fredrick
A bill for a law to establish the Kogi State Anti-Corruption Agency has passed through the second reading in the State House of Assembly.
Presenting the lead debate on Tuesday, the lawmaker representing Okene Town, Hon. Suleiman Abdulrazak noted that the bill when passed into law would assist government in combating corruption in the State.
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Hon Abdulrazak, who is also the Majority Leader of Kogi State House of Assembly averred that the bill was not being sponsored to compete with the federal anti graft agency but rather compliment their efforts in fighting corruption in the country.
In his contribution, Hon. Bin-Ebaiya Shehu Tijani noted that the bill came at the right time. He said “In the year 2015, our leader who was at the front of winning the election died during the process.
“That situation in Kogi State put the whole nation into confusion since such an incident was not captured in our constitution. When it happened that was why there was a review in our constitution. That is the more reason I said this was coming at the right time. Before an outsider will come to look at our book, an agency will be on ground to say this has happened and this has not happened”.
The Deputy Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Comfort Ojoma Nwuchiola charged her colleagues to critically look at the benefit of the bill when passed into law for the people of Kogi State.
Continuing, the Kogi Deputy Speaker said “My distinguished colleagues, I must commend the sponsor of this important bill in this eight Assembly. I am very optimistic that this bill if passed into law will provide all the needed support to other anti graft Agency in nipping corruption in the bud in our country. Let it be on record that, this bill is not competing with anybody, but rather assisting in the fight against corruption”.
Hon. Enefola Major of Igalamela/Odolu constituency opined that corruption has been a bane in Nigeria society hence the need to give the bill an express passage “Corruption is endemic in our society. Sadly, many Nigerians are corrupt. It is high time we all held the bull by the horns. I’m appealing to our colleagues to join their hands to support this bill”.
The members representing Yagba West State Constituency, Hon. Idowu Ibikunle, Ajaokuta, Hon. Abu Onoru-Oiza Jibrin and Okene South, Hon. Yusuf Zakari Eneve all threw their weights in the speedy passage of the bill.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf in his submission, said the bill is very important, stressing that the agency will not be established to antagonize the federal anti graft Agency.
” With this type of body in place, it will equally assist the House of Assembly in its oversight function.
Of course, for those of us who happen to be privileged in position of approval, we will be very careful. If this body is established, it is not to antagonize any federal body but to collaborate with them and make our society a better place.
“Maybe some of the cases the federal government are loosing as a result of none investigation or not having enough evidence, the State Government will be able to provide them with more, so that perpetuators will be brought to book” he stated.
The bill has been committed to the House Committee on judiciary and legal matters.
Meanwhile, a bill for a law to repeal and re-enact the Kogi State Local Government Service Commission and a bill for a law to repeal and re-enact the Kogi State scholarship board edict, 1998 have passed through second reading in the Kogi State House of Assembly.
Also, a bill for a law to establish the Kogi State Electricity Market and the Kogi State Electricity Regulatory Commission to regulate electricity generation, transmission, system operation, distribution, supply and promote access to electricity in the State through increased private investments or private sector partnership in grid, mini grid and other off grid electricity option using renewable energy and non-renewable fuel source in the State has passed through second reading in the Kogi State House of Assembly.
