SENATE MOVES AGAINST CCT, TO AMEND CODE OF CONDUCT ACT

THE Senate has begun moves to amend the Code of Conduct Act, with the objective of removing the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, from the office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, and the Presidency. With the fresh initiative, the Senate is out to whittle down the powers of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, and CCT.

The Code of Conduct Act CAP C15 LFN 2004 bill, which was sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Delta North, passed first reading.

In the bill, entitled Code of Conduct Act Cap C15 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill 2016, the Senate is seeking to transfer the control of CCT and CCB from the Office of Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, to National Assembly or the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF.

Prior to the reading of the Bill for the first time, there was, however, a mild drama when the first Order Paper for yesterday, which was circulated to journalists, was withdrawn. In the withdrawn Order Paper, the Code of Conduct Bill was omitted, but included in the copy distributed to lawmakers. The second Order Paper was distributed to journalists few minutes after the lawmakers concluded a closed-door session, where the Bill ought to have been read for the first time without journalists’ knowing.

It was gathered that some lawmakers protested against the move, after which the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, ruled that it should be made open. Speaking to journalists after yesterday’s plenary, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi noted that the bill was to save Nigerians and Nigeria from overzealous politicians, who will always use CCT to go after perceived enemies and settle some differences.