National Assembly Takes Over Power To Control CCT From Presidency

THE Senate on Thursday was divided over the
amendment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal as
the National Assembly took over power to appoint
staff of CCT/Code of Conduct Bureau from the
Presidency.
The Senate took the decision few minutes after
the Court of Appeal dismissed the request by the
President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola
Saraki, to stop his trial at the CCT.
During the consideration of the bill, senators
were divided along party lines.
In the amendment, the Bureau will first invite
the person suspected of falsely declaring his asset
for clarification before taking the person to the
Tribunal.
The Senate had previously stepped down the
consideration of the bill due to public outcry that
followed the move.
The bill had already been amended by the House
of Representatives and was sent to Senate for
concurrence.
Section 4 (2) was also amended to substitute the
word “President” with “the National Assembly” as
the one to appoint members of staff of the
Bureau and exercise disciplinary control over
them.
Section 1 (4) was deleted and replaced with:
“The Chairman and members shall serve for a term
of five years subject to renewal for one further
term only.
“(E) upon complaint(s) of any breach or where it
appears to the Bureau that there is a breach of
the provision of this Act, any person concerned
shall be given particulars of such noncomplaince or
breaches to explain before any reference to the
Tribunal.”