The Oyo state House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the state anti-corruption agency bill into law.
The executive bill, was brought to the assembly by the state Governor, Seyi Makinde in July this year as promised to set up anti-corruption agency.
The governor who declared to surrender his immunity if found guilty promised to tackle all forms of corruption in the state.
However, the bill, was passed by the House during its plenary presided over by its Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin on Tuesday.
The passage of the bill followed the third reading and presentation of the report of the Committee on Public Account, Finance and Appropriation.
The house Committee had earlier conducted a public hearing where opinions and submissions of stakeholders were received, collated and thoroughly scrutinized and considered in October.
Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Finance and Appropriation, Kehinde Olatunde while speaking said the establishment of the anti-graft agency became necessary due to the fact that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) are overburdened with too many cases.
Speaking on the bill ,the Speaker said the anti-cortuption agency was aimed at controlling and regulating finances as well as preventing corruption among not only among the political office holders but also among public servants and other residents in the state.
He said when fully operational, the anti-graft agency in the state will assist in attracting more local and foreign investors to the state.
Ogundoyin added that the new law will also help in presenting Oyo state Government as a transparent administration and one with zero tolerance for corruption.
“The law establishing the agency has been so designed in a way that will not hinder or duplicate the activities of federal ant,-graft agencies including the EFCC Abd ICPC but will further complement their activities to completely rid Oyo state of corrupt tendencies and practices.
“If Governor Seyi Makinde could promise to present himself for probe by putting aside his immunity in case of allegation of impropriety, then the people of Oyo state and indeed Nigeria should be convinced of the readiness of the PDP led Government in the state to run a transparent and corrupt free administration’.”
According to him, the bill was in line with the promise of the state Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde shortly after taking oath of office as the Governor of Oyo state to domesticate the anti-graft agency and wage total war against corruption and financial impropriety,
REMI FEYISIPO,Ibadan
