Reps to strengthen anti-corruption laws

The legislator made the pledge on Sunday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that comprehensive review of existing anti-corruption legislations were being undertaken by the Parliament to give the President the legal muscle in the war against corruption.

The lawmaker said: “The House supports the anti-corruption stance of the President.

“The House of Representatives has agenda to support the anti-corruption programme of the federal government.

“We have made consultations on ways to strengthen our laws in that regard.

“Nigerians should also encourage the President. If not for corruption, Nigeria would have made more progress.

“In Nigeria, there are individuals that are richer than the state.

“Where did they get their money? We do not know them as businessmen; this is likely to affect us. Government must continue to demonstrate its resolve on this.

“The president’s anti-corruption war is no longer selective because the executive, the legislature and the judiciary are now being accused.

“It is vicious circle; it has gone round.”

Namdas urged the media to hold politicians accountable for their promises and actions.

“When you are elected as a politician and you do not do the things you promised, Nigerians do not hold you accountable the way they hold leaders of the western world.

“But then this a nascent democracy- we are growing and hopefully we will get to that level,” he added.

The chairman said that the ongoing US Presidential campaign had shown how the press should hold politicians accountable for their actions.

He however lauded the vibrancy of the Nigerian press which ensured that democracy was restored to the country.

He urged Nigerian journalists to intensify their efforts in investigative journalism to make them effective agents of progress in the polity.