Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption, Senator Victor Lar on 22nd November, 2012, advocated proper funding of the anti-graft agencies if the war against corruption and economic crimes in Nigeria is to be taken seriously. He made the declaration at the 2013 budget proposal defence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before the National Assembly.
The Senator explained that there is a disconnect between the action and words of government in the fight against economic and financial crimes. “There exists a want of harmony between the verbal pronouncements of the government and the financing of the fight against economic and financial crimes”, he said. He added said that more needs to be done in regards to building capacity of staff of the EFCC.
“It is not in doubt that the expectation of the Nigerians on the direction, speed, scope, effectiveness in the fight against corruption rests with the Economic and Financial Crimes commission”, he declared.
The EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde presented a budget proposal of (N21,028,488,772.90) Twenty one Billion, Twenty Eight Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Eight Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Naira, Ninety Kobo for 2013, before the National Assembly.
He gave the breakdown of the proposed budget as follows: Capital Expenditure: (N11,412,803,582.50) Eleven Billion, Four Hundred and Twelve Million, Eight Hundred and Three thousand, Five Hundred and Eighty Two Naira, Fifty Kobo; Personnel Cost as (N6,514,525,127,00) Six Billion, Five Hundred and Fourteen Million, Five Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty Seven Naira; and Overhead Cost as (N3,101,160,063.40) Three Billion, One Hundred and One Million, One Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Sixty Three Naira Forty Kobo.
He pointed out that the EFCC proposal of N21.02Bn against the N9.3Bn approved by the Budget Office of the Federation leaves a gap of N11.3Bn which could impact adversely on the operation of the agency.
Other senators who participated in the budget defence of the EFCC were the Vice Chair of the Committee, Senator Ayoola Agboola, Senator Mohammed Sani Sale, and Senator Abubakar Sadiq Yar’Adua, all members of the committee.
