Jonathan encourages corruption in Nigeria, Speaker Tambuwal says



The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has stated that President Goodluck Jonathan is encouraging corruption in Nigeria by his handling of corruption cases.

“The President’s body language’ seems to be encouraging corrupt practices in the country,” the speaker said.

Mr. Tambuwal said the executive arm, headed by Mr. Jonathan, has failed to act on corruption cases revealed by the National Assembly.

He spoke while responding to questions on Monday after he presented a paper titled the ‘role of the legislature in the fight against corruption in Nigeria’ at a one day roundtable to mark the international anti-corruption day organised by the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, in Abuja.

“Take the subsidy probe, the pension, the SEC probe and recently the bullet proof car cases. After the House of Representatives did a diligent job by probing and exposing the cases, you now see something else when it comes to prosecution.

“In some cases, you have the government setting up new committees to duplicate the job already done by the parliament. Take the bullet proof cars case, the NSA, with all the security challenges confronting the country, should not be burdened with a job that can best be handled by the anti-corruption agencies,” he said.

He also said the government has no business setting up any administrative committee in a corruption case that is clear to all Nigerians, in apparent reference to the committee set up by Mr. Jonathan to probe the N255 million car scandal involving the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah. The three-man presidential committee had since submitted its report to Mr. Jonathan, with the president taking no action.

“What the President should have done was to explicitly direct the EFCC to probe the matter. With such directives coming from the President, I am sure we still have good people in EFCC who can do a good job,” Mr. Tambuwal said.

“By the action of setting up different committees for straightforward cases, the president’s body language doesn’t tend to support the fight against corruption.”

While lamenting what he described as the selective nature of prosecution of cases by the anti-corruption agencies, Mr. Tambuwal pledged the support of the national Assembly in the fight against corruption.

Below is the excerpt of the speech he earlier read at the event.

THE ROLE OF THE LEGISLATURE AS THE VANGUARD FOR ANTI CORRUPTION CRUSADE IN NIGERIA: BEING TEXT OF THE SPEECH BY RT HON AMINU WAZIRI TAMBUWAL CFR, SPEAKER HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AS GUEST SPEAKER AT THE 2013 INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY ORGANIZED BY THE NIGERIA BAR ASSOCIATION (NBA) ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMITTEE – 9TH DECEMBER 2013, SHERATON HOTEL & TOWERS, ABUJA

PROTOCOL:

1. I should like to start by expressing my sincere appreciation to the Anti-corruption committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for assigning me the role of Guest Speaker at this auspicious occasion of the 2013 International Anti-corruption day observance.

2. The subject matter, corruption, is so vast that to attempt to address it generally will take ages. Accordingly, therefore, I have decided to restrict my discussion today to “the role of the legislature as the vanguard for anti corruption crusade in Nigeria”

3. As a phenomenon, corruption is so notorious that it does not require introduction at an occasion or definition in a discussion such as this. The mere fact that corruption has been able to secure a whole day globally set aside for the observance of the prosecution of war against it confirms it’s notoriety beyond doubt. It also establishes the fact that corruption is a global citizen.

4. Nonetheless, for purposes of refreshing our memories, corruption refers to dishonest or illegal behaviour or conduct especially by powerful people. It is the impairment of integrity, virtue or moral principle and a departure from what is pure and correct.

5. Even though the tendency has been to talk of corruption more with reference to persons in position of governmental or managerial authorities, in reality corruption permeates all segments of society and indeed all societies since government and authorities are products of societies. It must be admitted though, that the level of prevalence differs from society to society.

6. For us in Nigeria, the reality that no greater challenge than corruption confronts us as a people is not in controversy. Indeed if the roots of the overwhelming majority of our woes were traced, they are sure to terminate at the doorsteps of corruption. This is a commonplace fact known to all Nigerians and requiring no corroboration. Yet for the avoidance of doubt, it is important to state that in its 2012 Global Corruption Perception Index (CPI) by the global corruption watchdog, Transparency International ranks Nigeria as the 36th most corrupt country globally! Nigeria placed 139th of the 176 countries assessed scoring 27% in contrast with the least corrupt countries; Denmark, Finland and New Zealand which scored 90%.

7. A survey of the social media showed that 98% of Nigerians who commented not only agreed with the country’s corruption ranking but in fact felt Transparency International was too generous to Nigeria. A few of the comments read: “We don’t need a report to tell us what we already know” another “Wow, I taught (sic) we were No.1, I wonder what country (SIC) are before us. We all need prayers and serious fasting for our nation”. The other “to be fair, I always thought Nigeria is the most corrupt country in the world” yet another “Me too… 35th is actually being nice”.

8. A list of manifestation of corruption especially in the public sector of Nigeria is legion ranging from direct diversion of public funds to private pockets, contract over-pricing, bribery, impunity, nepotism, general financial recklessness, fraudulent borrowing and debt management, public assets striping, electoral fraud, shielding of corrupt public officers among others.

9. It is a well established fact that corruption thrives well in any environment or society where there is community indifference or lack of enforcement policies. Societies with a culture of ritualized gift giving where the line between acceptable and non-acceptable gifts is often hard to draw. Societies in which values have been overthrown by materialism, societies in which laws are observed more in the breach.

10. It would appear that these environmental preconditions are all prevalent in the Nigerian society and no wonder therefore that corruption has found fertile soil to blossom.

11. As noted earlier, corruption is Nigeria’s greatest problem and a cancerous impediment to any development effort planned or envisaged. It follows then that if Nigeria is to witness true development, then corruption must be dealt with decisively and comprehensively. It is a duty requiring will, zeal and passion on the part of the three arms of government and indeed the entire citizenry.

The Role Of The Legislature.

12. The legislature plays three basic functions in a democracy, to wit Legislation, Representation and Oversight. It is within this scope of authority that the legislature can and indeed does impact on governance and can thus participate in the prosecution of the war against corruption in Nigeria .

13. Under the legislative function, Section 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 provides to the effect that the National Assembly shall have the power to make laws for peace, order and good government of the country. More specifically, under Section 15 (5) of the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, it provides, “The state shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of office”. Again in Section 2 (2) (b) and (c)’ government is enjoined to harness the resources of the nation for the common good and to prevent the concentration of wealth or the means of production and exchange in the hands of few individuals or of a group.

14. The responsibility of fashioning the legal framework for the fight against corruption and corrupt practices is thereby vested in the legislature.

15. In the exercise of this mandate, the National Assembly has enacted, the Code of Conduct Bureau and Code of Conduct Tribunal, The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2002 and The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission Act 2000′ for the purpose of investigating and prosecuting Public Officers and other persons suspected of involvement in corrupt practices. In both legislation, the Commissions are given extensive powers of investigation and prosecution to deal with all cases of corrupt practices and abuse of office that may arise.

16. With respect to the specific objective of injecting transparency and accountability in the management of the resources of the nation, the National Assembly enacted the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and the Public Procurement Act 2007. Both legislations make copious provisions aimed at engendering transparency and accountability in the public space.

17. I make bold to say that if the provisions of these legislation and indeed others were diligently enforced, significant milestones would have been accomplished in the fight against corruption and corrupt practices in Nigeria. Sadly however these Legislations are observed more in the breach by the majority including government and government agencies.

18. I am pleased to report that the House of Representatives is currently working on some proposals for the reform of these laws with a view to reinforcing the independence of the agencies administering these laws including their mode of constitution and disbandment. I wish therefore to call on members of the NBA and indeed all Nigerians to prepare to buy into these reforms by making their inputs now or when the time comes for Public Hearings.

19. One other area which has been of great concern is the culture of undue secrecy that surrounded the operation of government. Whereas our Constitution enjoins in its Section 14 (2) (c) that ” the participation of the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution” government business tended to be run like secret societies to the exclusion of the citizenry. It was clear that this tended and was indeed intended to aid the concealment of corruption such that even in times of suspicion, members of the public including gentlemen of the fourth realm could not access public information.

20. The National Assembly has passed the Freedom of Information Act 2011 to enhance the right of access to public records and information about public institutions. This is one Legislation that attracted massive public interest and it is my expectation that Nigerians will make maximum use of the right created under this legislation in order to defeat the culture of undue secrecy in the running of government business.

21. The other function of the legislature is oversight of the other arms of government. Section 88 mandates the National Assembly to investigate the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, ministry or government department charged or intended to be charged with the duty of or responsibility for

i) Executing or administering laws enacted by the National Assembly or

ii) Disbursing or administering moneys appropriated or to be appropriated by the National Assembly

The main object of investigation according to sub section 2 (a) and (b) of Section 88 is for law reform and to expose corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws or administration or disbursement of public funds. Similar provision is made in Section 128 of the constitution for legislatures at the sub-national levels.

22. Another critical role of the Legislature is the provision of adequate funding for Anti Corruption Agencies through appropriation. Unfortunately efforts to exercise this function by the legislature is often misconstrued by the executive arm and even some members of the public. Yet without adequate funding the anti corruption agencies cannot execute their functions satisfactorily. I wish to call on the other arms of government and indeed the general public to corroborate with us in the exercise of this mandate .

23.It is in exercise of this mandate that the House of Representatives and indeed the National Assembly has been carrying out oversight of government agencies and series of investigations or probes over allegations of corruption and corrupt practices. As you are all aware, the legislature has over the years exposed several cases of corruption.

24. It is important for me to stress once again at this stage that the mandate of the legislature is to expose corruption. It does not have further mandate to prosecute. That mandate of prosecution lies with the Executive and Judiciary. I have heard public comments to the effect that the public is tired of investigation by the legislature since the people indicted in their findings are never prosecuted and sanctioned.

25. Let me reiterate that the Legislature will not abdicate its responsibilities on the account of inaction or negligence of another arm of government. If nothing else we will at least continue to name and shame. As noted earlier, the war against corruption is the responsibility of all and I call on the citizens of this great nation to rise in the exercise of their constitutional power to insist on the prosecution and sanctioning of persons indicted by the Legislature or by any agency whether public or private concerned in the fight against corruption.

26. In the exercise of the mandate of oversight the legislature is able to audit both pre and post expenditure of agencies of government and to give appropriate direction on the administration and disbursement of funds and execution of programs and projects under the Appropriation Act. Indeed the Public Accounts Committee of both the House and Senate has the specific mandate to review the disbursement and administration of public funds by ministries, Departments and Agencies.

27. As representatives of the people, Legislators will continue to be for all Nigerians their eyes to see, ears to hear and mouth to speak out against corruption anywhere and at anytime it rears its ugly head.

28. The task may appear daunting but I wish to assure that wit will, zeal, passion and determination we shall eventually overcome this hydra headed dragon. Only let us be single minded that it’s a task that must be done in order to preserve the country for posterity.

Thank you all for your attention and God bless Nigeria.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/151161-jonathan-encourages-corruption-nigeria-speaker-tambuwal-says.html

There you have it....................

Jonathan is the most corrupt Nigerian president in recent time. 2015 on my mind.

we all know sir.. he condones corruption more dan any president we have ever had.. Jonathan don't let people kill u b4 u do d needful.. ma advice thou

“Take the subsidy probe, the pension, the SEC probe and recently the bullet proof car cases.

Without being told, we're already aware of that.

The day I started believing, he encourages corruption; was when he granted his ex boss Diepreye Alaimaisigha, former governor of Bayelsa state a state pardon! After he was arrested and released over corrupt practices! So I won't be perplexed, if he doesn't take any action against Oduah.

“Take the subsidy probe, the pension,
the SEC probe and recently the bullet
proof car cases. After the House of
Representatives did a diligent job by
probing and exposing the cases, you
now see something else when it
comes to prosecution.
“In some cases, you have the
government setting up new
committees to duplicate the job
already done by the parliament. Take
the bullet proof cars case, the NSA,
with all the security challenges
confronting the country, should not be
burdened with a job that can best be
handled by the anti-corruption
agencies,” he said.
He also said the government has no
business setting up any
administrative committee in a
corruption case that is clear to all
Nigerians, in apparent reference to the
committee set up by Mr. Jonathan to
probe the N255 million car scandal
involving the Minister of Aviation,
Stella Oduah.

GBAM!!!

Am sure the usual suspects will soon rush in here to start attacking the HORS...with curses...insults..abuses and the usual emotional and dis-jointed verbiages .

Some of the posters here haven't really read what the Speaker said. They just join the wumfest in bashing Mr. President. What if the topic of the thread is misleading?

This is not new. Every sane Nigerian knows this: Gej is corruption persionified!
And you would see those mo'R'ons comparing him with Mandela.
Those "sycophantic" e-dogs will soon be here to try to disprove glaring facts.

Old news. Everyone knows this but what is the HOR doing about the executive's behavior ?

To make matters worse, he destroys what little gains that had been made by our muribond anti corruption agencies by granting state pardon to convicted fellons and reversing sentences. That man is just plain corrupt.

I can see laptop No1 operator viewing the thread. Patiently waiting for him to start barking.

[b]I still dont understand why GEJ chose to work with criminals, ex-cons, crooks, militants, Bokoharam-PDP guys, and the same cabal that almost shredded him apart when Turai came VERY hard on him. Despite been given the mandate by good and sincere Nigerians its funny how quickly he turned Soyinka, Bakare, even OBJ, Tinubu and the entire SW and now the North who totally voted for him and who were his greatest political benefactors to his #1 political enemies today. I dont think GEJ encourages corruption, I think he's totally clueless, and totally have no slightest clue about ruling Nigeria, and I STRONGLY REPEAT, GEJ ISNT THE ONE RULING NIGERIA, BUT THE HANDFUL OF PEOPLE MISLEADING HIM.
I mean, NEVER in the history of Nigeria have we have a president, who turned his back at a region (the SW), because some handful of political sycophants and jobbers wanted to corner juicy political opportunities to themselves alone while making the others look like haters and enemies of the ruling regime. I strongly believe GEJ is TOTALLY SURROUNDED BY HIS REAL ENEMIES. Lets see if these noise makers alone can win him a second term.[/b]

K

Where are the ilks of Odulah to come and earn their 5,000? Odulah + GEJ lapdogs, where are you? Food is ready o ye small retardeens!

2015tinz

When the NASS, especially house of reps, politicizes or fumbles and wumbles with probes (eg the Farouk Lawan and SEC probe bribe scandal), then it is only RIGHT that the president conducts his own probe and acts based on his own probe or investigations. For example, the probe by the presidential committee on fuel subsidy established fraudulent practices by fuel marketers initially cleared by house of reps. After all, in the end, the buck stops on the president's table and he has to act based on a well-informed position.

Personally, I cannot touch any of house of reps jaundiced, APCnized, Tinubunized, Buharinized and bribe-tainted probe reports with a 10 metre pole. I dont know about you.

Meanwhile, we are still expecting the report of the house committee that probed bribery allegation against Farouk and the clerk of the house. It seems when the probe involves members of the house of reps, it goes on FOREVER.

Show me your friends and I'll know who you are!

This is one of the reasons I hate politicians. They are all hypocrites. This speaker condones corruption as much as Jonathan. If not why has the house of rep not started the process of impeaching the president,or are all these facts not reasonable ground for impeachment. Why is he telling us? Was he not elected to represent us and make sure that the president is brought to book. This is why we can't move forward in this country, the politicians know the right thing to do but don't do them,they simply prefer to talk about it. Secondly what of Farouk Lawan. Was it not exactly same thing Gej did with aviation and fuel subsidy that he did with the case of Farouk Lawan. Truth is,they both condone Corruption. Gej may be worse though..

what can i say? Tambuwal was spot on!

I started counting ...1, 2... before 3 out comes the scums of the earth insincerebastardgerian, and his aides to come and lick their oga shaite as usual! LMAO...

This guy is a mole, why didn't he applaud EFCC arrest of Tukur son and Lamido thieves?? All he is after is to see the wrongs of GEJ.

APC- Anti Progressive Criminals


Even my only sibling won't even get my vote if he dare in his life try to contest any election under this evil party.

We will need someone in 2015 to tell GEJ this 3 words... "Go and Die".

GEJ will be the first president to be voted out of office. let wait and see

Sincere 9gerian: When the NASS, especially house of reps, politicizes or fumbles and wumbles with probes (eg the Farouk Lawan and SEC probe bribe scandal), then it is only RIGHT that the president conducts his own probe and acts based on his own probe or investigation. For example, the probe by the presidential committee on fuel subsidy established fraudulent practices by fuel marketers initially cleared by house of reps. After all, in the end, the buck stops at his table.

and what are the functions of the EFCC if the president still spend tax payers money on useless investigative committees?

He doesn't give a damn!

Tittos: This is one of the reasons I hate politicians. They are all hypocristes.This speaker condones corruption as much as Jonathan. If not why has the house of rep not started the process of impeaching the president or are all these facts not reasonable ground for impeachment. Why is he telling Nigerian. Was he not elected to represent us and make sure that the president is brought to book. This is why we can't move forward in this country, the politicians know the right thing to do but don't do them,they simply prefer to talk about it. Secondly what of Farouk Lawan. Was it not exactly same thing Gej did with aviation and fuel subsidy that he did with the case of Farouk Lawan. Truth is,they both condone Corruption. Gej may be worse though..

Thank you

lmao!!..Tambuwal the 'progressive' has spoken!

justhelp: GEJ will be the first president to be voted out of office. let wait and see

Dont worry, when the time comes, we'll inflict another heavy defeat on you and you'll cry and wail as usual, like you did in the just concluded Anambra election.

Cluelessness