N/Assembly most corrupt arm of govt – Jega
The immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, has accused the National Assembly of being the most corrupt arm of government.
He alleged that lawmakers sought for bribes to carry out their constitutional duties.
He was speaking yesterday while delivering this year’s Democracy Day lecture and the third anniversary of the present administration, at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja themed, “Peace Building and Good Governance for Sustainable Development in Nigeria.”
Jega said “Some chairmen of committees at the National Assembly are notorious for seeking for bribes. I spoke to quite a number of chief executives, who complained of high demand for bribes from members of the National Assembly in the name of the so called oversight functions.”
Jega said Nigeria needs to develop capacity, institutions, structures and processes of peace building for sustainable development domestically.
President Muhammadu Buhari in his ‘Special Remark’ commented on the Orubebe saga, for the first time since the 2015 Presidential Election.
A former Minister Delta Affairs, Godsday had attempted to announcement of the presidential election.
In mild drama that took place on March 3, 2015, Orubebe, had criticized Jega’s handling of the collation and accused him of being biased in favour of the then opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
The President jokingly queried the organizers of the event for not inviting Orubebe.
“Here I must digress to raise an observation by the programme organizers because I did not see Mr Orubebe, who ought to have come and listen to Professor Jega deliver his lecture, this is a major observation. That instance for of Niger Orubebe, disrupt 2015 those of us who were lucky that there was light and we had the television to see the confrontation between Orubebe and Prof Jega, it will remain a life impression to many of us.
Buhari commended Jega for ensuring free and fair elections in 2015 saying “The question of an interim administration or postponing election for more than 90 days shouldn’t be on the table and I thank personally the United States government then under president Obama by sending John Kerry to read the riot act to the government and to us the opposition then that nothing other than a free and fair election will be acceptable.”
The event was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Gida Mustapha; Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita and Interior Minister, Abdulrahman Dambazau.