Civil society organisations kick against amendment of cct act by senate

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Civil Society Organizations Protest Senate's Amendment of CCT Act

A coalition of civil society organizations in Nigeria has expressed strong opposition to the Senate's amendment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Act. The organizations, which include the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the Nigerian Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), among others, have condemned the amendment as a threat to the independence of the tribunal and the fight against corruption.

The Senate had recently passed an amendment to the CCT Act, which would give the President the power to appoint the tribunal's chairman and members, as well as the power to remove them from office. The organizations argue that this amendment would undermine the tribunal's independence and create a conflict of interest, as the President would have the power to appoint and remove judges who are supposed to be impartial.

The organizations also expressed concern that the amendment would undermine the effectiveness of the tribunal in prosecuting corruption cases, as the President's appointees would be more likely to be influenced by political considerations rather than the rule of law.

In a statement, CISLAC's Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said: "The amendment is a clear attempt to undermine the independence of the tribunal and to create a system where the President can use the tribunal to settle political scores rather than to fight corruption."

The organizations are calling on the Senate to reconsider the amendment and to ensure that the tribunal remains independent and impartial in its operations.

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