The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has strongly condemned
the amendment to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Code of Conduct
Tribunal (CCT) Act by the National Assembly (NASS) and urged President
Muhammadu Buhari not to sign the amended Act.
The CNPP also called on well meaning Nigerians and the Civil Society
groups in the country, including the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and
the Trade Union Congress (TUC), to mount pressure on Mr. President to
withhold his assent to the said amendment.
The umbrella body of all the registered political parties and associations
in the country, in a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its
Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, noted that the CNPP’s decision was
taken after a careful study of the amendment and the circumstances
surrounding the controversial move.
Parts of the statement read: “We are taken aback that just months after it
initially suspended the move to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and
the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Act, the National Assembly subtly
passed the amendment Bill into law.
“When the plan by the National Assembly to amend the Act first became
known to members of the public, there was deafening outcry, which forced
the lawmakers to suspend the move.
“The CNPP, just like many other Nigerians had thought that the National
Assembly by the suspension of the earlier move to amend the CCT/CCB Act
was a sign of good days ahead where the lawmakers respect the majority
opinion of their respective constituencies.
“But the subtle passage of the amendment Bill is an indication that the
National Assembly is serving the interest of its principal officers, and
not that of the Nigerian people who unfortunately elected this crop of
lawmakers, so insensitive to the core issues bothering the ordinary
citizens”, the CNPP observed.
The Conference also noted that “The speed with which the amendment was
carried out at a time some principal officers were accused of false
declaration of assets is an indication of the interest it intended to
serve.
“We therefore urge President Muhammadu Buhari to withhold his assent by
not signing the amended Act into law as the circumstances surrounding the
amendment shows it was done in bad fate and the action of the National
Assembly amounts taking over executive powers to the detriment of the
Constitutional principle of separation of powers. It must be noted that
appointment of the staff of the CCT and CCB are clear executive powers,
which the National Assembly cannot be allowed usurp.
“We equally call on the Civil Society groups and all well meaning
Nigerians to mount pressure on Mr. President not to sign the amendment as
doing so would mean that the National Assembly would become a place of
refuge for former governors and political officeholders who make false
assets declarations. It then means that all they need to evade prosecution
would be to be elected as Senators or as Members of the House of
Representatives.
“CNPP, therefore, condemns the amendment in strongest terms as we regard
it as a rape on the principle of justice and an ambush on the ongoing
trail of some principal officers of the National Assembly over alleged
false assets declaration fraud.
“This same National Assembly that have delayed the passage of the
Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which could create jobs for many unemployed
Nigerians was quick to amend the CCT/CCB Act, arrogating to itself the
power to control both the CCB and CCT, because it serves their interest”,
the CNPP said.