N’Assembly to retool anti-graft agencies

Posted by admin EFCC Politics, House, Latest Politics, Legislature, Senate Friday, July 22nd, 2011

APPARENTLY disturbed by the perception of the international community of Nigeria as a corrupt nation, Senate President, Senator David Mark, has promised that the anti-corruption agencies would be strengthened to redouble the fight against the scourge.

Mark, who said this yesterday at the National Assembly when members of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) visited him, stressed that the agencies needed to rise to the occasion to fight corruption.

The Senate President and other top Nigerians also tasked the Federal and state governments and Labour unions on resolving finally the new wage crisis.

Although Mark stated that both the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had clearly defined roles by the Acts establishing them, he observed that the issue of corruption required the collaborative efforts of all well-meaning Nigerians to tackle the menace.

“The challenge before all of us is that Nigeria and Nigerians have been tagged names synonymous with corruption. We must do more of enlightenment to reduce corruption and possibly eradicate it so that we can remove this toga of corruption hanging on us,” he stated.

Mark reminded the ICPC and EFCC that it was easier to prevent corruption than preparing for prosecution and cautioned anti-corruption agencies against frivolous petitions.

“You know that there are professional petition writers. They even have sign boards, we must be mindful of them but you must address genuine petitions and prosecute where necessary,” Mark cautioned.

Earlier, the acting Chairman ICPC, Dr. Rose Abang Wushishi, said that the commission was properly established by the law, operates within the ambits of the law and would continue to operate strictly by the enabling laws.

She assured that ICPC would not relent on the fight against corruption until the society became free of the menace, reiterating that “we are committed to fighting corruption and we shall not compromise standard.”

Also, Mark described the parley between government and Labour unions, which resolved the minimum wage impasse as a patriotic deal.

He expressed delight that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) demonstrated uncommon understanding, which he said was a needed partnership to achieve progress.

Mark, who spoke when the Vice Chancellor of Caleb University, Lagos and management of the institution visited him, urged other industrial unions such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Academic Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and as well as the National Union of Petroleum and Gas workers (NUPENG) to always embrace dialogue as a way of resolving trade disputes.

The Senate President urged tertiary institutions in the country to stress quality education as an antidote to the myriad of problems facing the nation.

He was emphatic that quality education would address the problems of inefficiency, corruption and indiscipline in the society.

He appreciated the initiatives that led to the emergence of private institutions to complement government-owned institutions but advised that such school environment must be conducive for learning.

Mark advised that anything capable of disrupting the free flow of academic activities or administration should be halted through dialogue.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju, urged the Senate to use its position to give private universities access to grants in order to aid the growth and development of the education sector.

Meanwhile, Mark, expressed grief over the death of Alhaji Ahmed Dogondaji who until his demise was the Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC).

Akwa Ibom State government said that it was ready to pay the new minimum wage. Special Adviser to the state governor on Labour, Productivity and Public Service, Ime Sampson Umoh, said in an interview with The Guardian in Uyo that the state governor was the first to approve the implementation of the new minimum wage with effect from April 2011.

-Guardianwp_posts