From Fred Itua, AbujaTo buoy President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft crusade, the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, has commenced a nationwide visit to agencies handling graft-related cases.
Committee chairman, Chukwuka Utazi, who led other members to Enugu State, yesterday, said the purpose of the unannounced visits to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) across the country, was to identify areas that needed improvement.
The committee also revealed that the Senate, in a proposed amendment bill of the EFCC Act, would empower the anti-graft agency to keep two per cent of whatever it gets from recovered loots.
“We will pass the bill next week. We have made provisions for the EFCC to auction seized assets… Going forward, EFCC will keep two per cent of whatever it recovers for operational cost.”
Utazi praised Enugu EFCC staff’s diligence, despite poor working conditions.
“I want to appreciate your fight against corruption. We would have progressed more than this if there was no corruption. We have to supervise you so that you will be efficient. That is the only way you can do your job well…”
EFCC coordinator in charge of the South East, Mr. Johnson Babalola, commended the lawmakers for backing the commission on retention of a certain percentage of revovered loots.