Corruption in Executive Far More than Legislature, Judiciary Combined, Says ICPC Chairman

Bolaji Owasanoye, chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices
and other related offences Commission (ICPC), says the executive
arm of government in Nigeria is more corrupt than the legislative
and judicial arms.

According to Rasheedat Okoduwa, ICPC spokesperson, Owasanoye
made the comment while delivering a lecture at the induction for
new legislators in Abuja.

Tagged “The legislature and fight against graft and corruption”,
Owosanoye described corruption as the enemy of development and good
governance.

Noting that Nigeria has the highest paid legislators
representing the poorest people in the world, he said the national
assembly budget had increased, over the years, for the same number
of legislators without defensible legal or moral justification.

He added that the public perception of legislators as being
corrupt will be sustained unless the assembly makes its yearly
budget public.

“Corruption in the executive is far more than the legislature
and judiciary combined. This is because the executive spends a far
bigger chunk of the money appropriated,” Owosanoye was quoted to
have said.

“This gives room for allegations of abuse and misappropriation
of the funds. It is believed that we have the highest paid
legislators representing the poorest people in the world.

“Since 1999, national assembly budget has increased without
defensible legal or moral justification. Without increase in
membership and addition of only one or two agencies, national
assembly budget grew from N6.9 billion in 1999 to N139 billion in
2018.

“The problem is that it is just a single line item; the public
is hardly told the breakdown and how it is used. The criticisms
will disappear if we are told how it is spent.

“The Legislature must wake up to its role of oversight over
Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to curb the
menace.”

Responding, Femi Gbajabiamila, majority leader of the house of
representatives, said he had canvassed for a complete disclosure of
the budget of the national assembly to put an end to the numerous
accusations of corruption against members.