The Senate Wednesday set machinery in motion for establishment of tribunal for strict implementation of Audit report as adopted by both chambers of the National Assembly.
This is as it recommends life imprisonment without option of fine, for unlawful explosives manufacturers in the country.
Need for Audit report Tribunal came to the fore in the Senate when bill sponsored by its Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Mathew Urhoghide (PDP Edo South), was considered and passed for second reading.
Urhoghide in his lead debate on the bill seeking for an Act to provide for strict implementation of the National Assembly recommendations on Annual Federal Audit Reports and for related matters said the proposed legislation was very necessary for potency of the war against corruption.
According to him, for war against corruption to be effective, findings and recommendations made in Audit report, must be strictly implemented or enforced.
“Is not enough for the National Assembly as provided for in section 88 of the 1999 constitution to expose corruption through required investigation but go further , to ensure strict implementation of resolutions made”, he said.
Similarly, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan in his remarks, said the missing link of strict implementation of resolutions taken by the National Assembly on yearly audit reports , must be addressed .
“The proposed legislation is very necessary . Something in the mode of a Tribunal is needed for strict implementations of recommendations inform of prosecution of offenders .
“Public Hearing on this bill , must be thoroughly conducted on how the Tribunal would be put in place as a potent way of fighting corruption ” , he said .
Section 11 of the bill seeking to repeal the explosives Act 1964 and enact the explosives Act 2023 passed for third reading by Senate on Wednesday, recommends life imprisonment without option of fine as punishment for any person who unlawfully manufacture any explosives in the country.
