House of Reps Amends Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Strips President of his Power

 

The House of Representatives has considered and passed an amendment to the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Channels TV reports.

 

The new amendment mandates the bureau to ensure that any one deemed to have breached the provision of the act is given the chance to explain before such a case is referred to the tribunal.

 

The amendment to Section 3 of the Act now includes a paragraph (e) which says “upon complaint(s) of any breach or where it appears to the Bureau that there is a breach of the provision or this Act, the person concerned shall be given particulars of such non compliance or breaches to explain before any reference to the tribunal”.

 

Section 4 (2) was also amended to substitute the word “President” with “the National Assembly” as the one to appoint members of staff of the Bureau and exercise disciplinary control over them.

 

It would be recalled that the Senate had suspended its planned amendments to the CCB, CCT Act due to public outcry of Civil Society Organisations. It was believed by some that the Senate had wanted to amend the act following the prosecution of Senate President, Bukola Saraki at the CCT.