BEVERLY HILLS, September 05, (THEWILL) – The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay has flayed members of the National Assembly for what he described as hostility towards the war against corruption.
The PACAC Chairman made this knownon Tuesdayin a public lecture in Lagos on the topic: ‘The many afflictions of anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria’ organised by the Nigerian Society of International Law.
He declared that the lawmakers, senior lawyers, especially Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), and some “hostile and powerful judges” work against efforts to rid the country of corruption.
He also revealed that PACAC would push for the prosecution of bank chiefs who connived with looters to move and hide stolen funds saying the “monstrous epidemic of high profile corruption” could not have afflicted Nigeria without bankers’ collusion.
“They must not get away with it.
“In my own little way, we are going to push for the prosecution of such bank chiefs. They must be prosecuted.
“There is a gang up of the powerful political, business and banking elite that is determined to frustrate the anti-corruption struggle,” he said.
Sagay said the National Assembly comprises self-serving lawmakers who allocated N125billion to themselves alone this year.
He said while the United States President earns $400,000 per annum, a Nigerian senator earns over $1.7million.
Sagay said beside a basic salary of N2.4million per month, they earn allowances such as hardship (50 per cent of basic salary), newspaper allowance (50 per cent), wardrobe allowance (25 per cent), entertainment (30 per cent), recess (10 per cent), and leave (10 per cent), among others which amounts to N29.5million per month and N3.2billion per annum.
“Perhaps the most notorious example of the legislators’ resistance to the war against corruption is the rejection of the right of the executive to choose the persons who will spearhead that struggle.
“The clear impression is created that Nigerian legislators are in office for themselves and not for the populace.
“Not surprisingly, the National Assembly has not passed a single bill for the promotion of anti-corruption war since it commenced business in July 2015. The Whistle Blowers Protection Bill, the Proceeds of Crime Bill and the Special Criminal Court Bill remain in a virtual state of stagnation.
“What evidence do we need to establish the hostility of the eighth Assembly to the anti-corruption war?” Sagay said.
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