Reps Move To Reduce President’s Powers Over EFCC Chairman
The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, to grant the anti-graft agency greater institutional independence and reduce presidential control over its leadership.
The bill, sponsored by Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, representing Plateau State, was considered during Thursday’s plenary session presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu.
The proposed legislation aims to insulate the EFCC from political interference, modernize its legal framework, and align its operations with global anti-corruption best practices.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Gagdi explained that the amendment seeks to curtail the President’s power to remove the EFCC Chairman at will. Under the existing law, the President can sack the EFCC Chairman without consulting the National Assembly, a provision Gagdi described as outdated and prone to abuse.
The lawmaker stated that the new proposal would require the approval of two-thirds of both chambers of the National Assembly before the EFCC Chairman can be removed from office.
This, he said, would strengthen the Commission’s independence and boost public confidence in its operations.
“The EFCC operates under outdated provisions that do not adequately address modern realities such as cybercrime, cryptocurrency manipulation, illicit financial flows, terrorism financing, and real estate-based money laundering,” Gagdi said.
“This amendment will make the EFCC more professional, transparent, and free from external influence.”
According to him, since the enactment of the EFCC Act in 2004, the scope and sophistication of financial crimes have significantly evolved, necessitating a review of the Commission’s operational structure to effectively combat emerging threats.
Supporting the bill, the Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Crimes, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, described the proposed amendment as long overdue.
He emphasized that Nigeria’s anti-graft institutions must operate independently to restore both local and international confidence in the nation’s fight against corruption.
“The EFCC must not only be seen as fighting corruption but must also operate without political interference or executive manipulation,” Onwusibe noted.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
