September 16, (THEWILL) — The Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Alfred Emberga, has described corruption as a cog in the wheel of progress that weakens governance, thereby denying common people the benefits of development.
The Speaker made this assertion during the Public hearing of a bill to encourage public complaints, to prescribe punishment for corrupt practices and related offences, and to establish Benue Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, held on Tuesday in Makurdi, the state capital.
Represented by the Deputy Speaker, Mrs Lamin Danladi, the Speaker stated that corruption thrived on illegality and a weak legal system, culminating in a culture of impunity among the people.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) led Government in Benue State is determined to fight corruption head-on. Therefore, this bill is a bold step to strengthen accountability, promote justice and restore public confidence in governance”, Emberga stated.
According to him, the proposed Commission will provide an independent platform for Benue citizens to report injustice and corrupt practices, ensure that offenders are handed appropriate sanctions and to insulate members of the public against impunity.
The Speaker stressed that the public hearing is, therefore, aimed at providing an opportunity for all stakeholders to make their inputs into the bill before it is passed, since laws are stronger when they are shaped by the people they are meant to serve.
He acknowledged the positive collaboration between Governor Hyacinth Alia and the State legislature, stressing that the presentation of the bill to the House on February 26 was another demonstration of the collaboration aimed at processing and passing landmark legislation for the people of Benue.
The Majority Leader, who also served as the Chairman of the Public Hearing, Mr Thomas Dugeri, pointed out that the bill, if passed, would reduce corrupt practices in Benue State.
“If the bill comes to fruition, Benue would be placed on the world map as a state that had taken centre stage against corruption”, Dugeri hoped.
He assured that all suggestions made by the stakeholders would be taken into consideration in order to come out with a perfect law.
In his contribution, the Minority Leader, Mr Abu Umoru, disclosed that many states had domesticated the law, and Benue cannot be left out in the scheme of things, adding that the state government wants to bring the anti-corruption agency closer to the people.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Prof. Timothy Ornguga, represented by the Acting Director, Legal Draft, Mr Edward Yange, hailed the state government for the giant move aimed at tackling corruption.
The Attorney General, therefore, assured that the State Ministry of Justice would fine-tune the bill, deliberate on it, and present it to the House for consideration and passage.
On his part, the Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Makurdi Branch, Barr. Terna Yaji, said that corrupt practices were not just about money but had to do with time management as well, and assured cooperation for the needful things to be done.
