14 December 2022
The Senate on Tuesday passed for second reading a Bill seeking to amend the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act.
The proposed legislation seeks to make it difficult for the President to exercise his power to sack the head of the anti-graft body without legislative approval.
The Bill was sponsored by Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP – Enugu West).
It also seeks to ensure that the appointment and removal of the EFCC’s chairman are subject to the confirmation of the Senate.
Report says the Bill further seeks to amend the commission’s establishment Act to restrict non-EFCC workers from heading the anti-graft agency.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan reminded his colleagues that the one office of chairman of the EFCC is a political appointment and that it is subject to political decisions and interventions at the highest level of government.
Also, the Senate yesterday passed the 2023 budget of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), following its presentation by the Committee on Communications.
The NCC’s budget for 2023 is N559 billion, comprising a recurrent expenditure of N86.7 billion, capital expenditure of N5.2 billion, and special projects of N35 billion.
The commission is expected to transfer N416 billion out of N86.7 billion, capital expenditure of N5.2 billion, and special projects of N35 billion.
The commission is expected to transfer N416 billion out of the projected revenue to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Report says Senate passed the Universal Service Provision Fund 2023 budget of N16 billion.
It has N2.4 billion recurrent expenditure, N124.8 billion capital expenditure and projects expenditure of N13.4 billion.
