The Senate received more knocks at the weekend for last week’s amendment to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Acts.
Many Nigerians reacted angrily to the concurrence of the Senate with the House of Representatives to take the powers over the CCB away from the President to the lawmakers.
Yesterday, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) and Jigawa North Senator Abdullahi Abubakar joined the fray.
The TUC accused the lawmakers of making frantic efforts to sabotage the ongoing fight against corruption by attempting to take over the controlling power of the CCB and the CCT from the President.
In a statement, the Congress said lawmakers had consistently shown Nigerians that they were not ready to perform the function for which they were elected.
The statement signed by National President Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Acting General Secretary Simeso Amachree, said the interest of the senators is not to enhance the anti-corruption fight, but to shield themselves from prosecution when they engage in acts of misconduct.
The statement reads: “The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria condemns the plot by some members of the Senate to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act to their own advantage. By this, they would now take over the controlling powers of the bureau and the tribunal from the President, to shield themselves from prosecution when they engage in acts of misconduct.
“The mission and vision of the 8th National Assembly is becoming clearer by the day, as they have abandoned pressing issues for parochial and self-serving ones.
“It is our belief that if the people in authority do the right thing, there would be no need trying to circumvent statutory laws and acts. For us at congress, allowing the President to maintain his power of appointment into the CCB only is not enough if the war against corruption must be won.
“In the last one and half years the lawmakers have given the country cause to worry, to say the least. They are paid humongous wages and allowances with the tax payers’ money for doing nothing, even at a time the wages of an average worker can barely take him or her home.
“We salute the courage of the Appeal Court on its declaration on the case involving the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on charges of false assets declaration brought against him by the federal government.
The CNPP also called on well-meaning Nigerians and civil society groups, including the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), to mount pressure on Buhari to withhold his assent to the said amendment.
The umbrella body of all the registered political parties and associations, in a statement yesterday by its Secretary General Chief Willy Ezugwu, noted that the CNPP’s decision was taken after a careful study of the amendment and the circumstances surrounding the controversial move.
“We are taken aback that just months after it initially suspended the move to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Act, the National Assembly subtly passed the amendment Bill.
“When the plan by the National Assembly to amend the Act first became known to members of the public, there was deafening outcry, which forced the lawmakers to suspend the move.
“The CNPP, just like many other Nigerians, had thought that the National Assembly by the suspension of the earlier move to amend the CCT/CCB Act was a sign of good days ahead where the lawmakers respect the majority opinion of their respective constituencies.
“But the subtle passage of the amendment Bill is an indication that the National Assembly is serving the interest of its principal officers, and not that of the Nigerian people who unfortunately elected this crop of lawmakers, so insensitive to the core issues bothering the ordinary citizens”, the CNPP said.
The Conference also noted: “The speed with which the amendment was carried out at a time some principal officers were accused of false declaration of assets is an indication of the interest it intended to serve.
“We therefore urge President Muhammadu Buhari to withhold his assent by not signing the amended Act into law as the circumstances surrounding the amendment show it was done in bad fate and the action of the National Assembly amounts to taking over executive powers to the detriment of the constitutional principle of separation of powers. It must be noted that appointment of the staff of the CCT and CCB are clear executive powers, which the National Assembly cannot be allowed to usurp.”
Senator Abubakar (Jigawa North West) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birninkudu, that “laws are meant to outlive individuals not meant for individuals.’’
The senator, who said he was away on oversight duties when the amendment was made, said he was completely opposed to the decision.
He also described the Bill on inheritance before the Senate as a negation of the provisions on freedom of worship, adding that it would not see the light of the day.
According to him, Christians and Muslims are against the law.
“We are there as representatives of the people and anything that the people don’t want will not scale through.
“We will make sure that the aspirations of the people we represent are not sacrificed at the altar of a few members of the Senate.
“Even though the bill has passed second reading, I believe any law can be stepped down at any stage and this is not an exception,’’ Abubakar said.
culled from: The Nation