Buhari asks N/Assembly to pass Whistle-blower Bill, 2 others

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the National Assembly to consider and pass three critical bills needed to effectively fight corruption in the country.

The bills are: Proceeds of Crime Bill, Whistle-Blower Bill and Witness Protection Bill.

The president’s request was contained in a letter dated 14th January, 2022 and read yesterday by Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.

Buhari wrote: “I write to inform you that the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria participated in the 9th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption held from 13th - 17th December, 2021 at the International Congress Center, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

“At the session, the International Community expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s effort in the fight against corruption re-affirming Nigeria’s rating as a leader in Africa in the areas of developing structures for recovery, repatriation, and disposal of proceeds of crime.

“In light of this and the need to continue to increase Nigeria’s global profile, I hereby request that the National Assembly kindly consider and eventually pass the best possible version of the following bills: Proceeds of Crime Bill; Whistle-Blower Bill; and Witness Protection Bill.”

Meanwhile, Senate President Ahmad Lawan has forwarded two executive communications from President Buhari for the confirmation of Nnamonso Ekanem (Akwa-Ibom, South-South) and Mahmud Abubakar Magaji (Niger, North-Central) as Members of the Federal Judicial Service Commission to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

The nomination of Professor Mansur Auwalu Bindawa for appointment as New Non-Executive Commissioner of the Nigerian Communications Commission was forwarded to the Committee on Communication.

Both Committees were given two weeks to screen the nominees and report back to the Senate in plenary.