A bill seeking to allow public officers operate foreign bank accounts passed second reading at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
Under the extant Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 2004, it is criminal for a public officer to operate a bank account outside Nigeria.
The bill that passed second reading on Wednesday sought to amend this law “so as to make the leave of the Bureau necessary for a public officer to maintain or operate a bank account outside Nigeria.”
One of the supporters of the bill, Mr. Bamidele Faporusi, argued that the current law was “weak and ineffective”, as no public officer had been successfully prosecuted for flouting it.
He explained that the amendment proposed included a proviso that public officer must get the approval of the bureau before opening such an account.
He claimed that the disclosure would remove the secrecy surrounding foreign accounts.
Faporusi said, “Today, people are operating such accounts by proxy or even in the open because they know that nothing will happen.
“This amendment says you can operate the account but this must be with the leave of the bureau. People now know that there will be punishment for non-disclosure.”
Another lawmaker, Mrs. Aisha Dahiru from Adamawa State, told the House that the secrecy surrounding foreign accounts encouraged “the monumental corruption” in the country.
But, some members expressed reservations, fearing that the proposal would simply give public officers a licence to stash more government funds in private accounts overseas. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Audacious - Openly corrupt lawmakers seek openly operated foreign bank accounts.
ReplyDeleteEncouraging more stealing of public funds!! Idiotic legislation. Don't they have better things to think about??
ReplyDeleteThis democracy is nt good for Naija cus of Those pple in power .inpunity has become normal thing.legalising cime nd corruption.may God eradicate u all .
ReplyDeleteNigerians will be Nigerians whether in a democratic dispersion or military. We have been brought up to think n accept corruption. It is too late for this country or any other country that may arise from this country in the event of a split.
ReplyDeleteNigerians talk corruption like it's not corruption, from religious houses to government.
Faporusi said ; "People now know that there will be punishment for non-disclosure"...
ReplyDeleteBunch of thieves and stinkingly corrupt leaders with no shame. So what difference does it make. Does these same people whom you claimed they operate the account in secrecy not know the penalty of doing so and yet they do it? So what difference does it make if the new penalty is a PUNISHMENT FOR NON-DISCLOSURE. Very flimsy excuse.
Now it is very clear to me that this Jonathan is a weak and stealing president. Why will this happen? Even when foreign accounts are not allowed for public officers, they still secretly operate them. This secrecy makes life difficult for them. Should they be allowed to operate a foreign account legally, then the public will soon see the damages this government has caused. A word is enough for the wise.
ReplyDeleteThese so called House of Rep supposedly House of Thieves members never cease to amaze me, something is illegal and people are doing it with impunity; is it when you legalize it that there will stop doing it? May God bless us with leaders with rational mind set.
ReplyDelete