Text of Press Conference by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) on the Bill Passed into Law by the Bauchi State House of Assembly That Repeal the State Public Property and Recovery Tribunal 2017

Issued on Friday 17th May, 2019

Office Address: NUJ Secretariat Complexs, Opposite Reinsurance House, Ahmadu

Bello Way, New GRABauchi, Bauchi state.

www.citad.org  info@citad.org

Ladies and  gentlemen of the  press,  we would like to welcome you to  this press conference  and to address  you on an important issue that  has to do with public expenditure management.

The Centre for  Information Technology and  Development (CITAD)  received with shock the  decision of the  Bauchi State House of Assembly to  repeal a law that provides  for the  investigation  of public officers who might  have misappropriated state  funds entrusted  in their hands. The House in its meeting on Wednesday 15th May, 2017 passed three bills, among which is “Bill for a Law to Repeal Bauchi State Public Property  and Funds  Recovery Tribunal  Law  2017” repealing  an earlier  law that  provides the investigation and prosecution of those suspected  to have looted public funds in the state.

In an unprecedented fashion, the  three  bills were  introduced that  day and  were subjected  to first, second and third readings the  same day after  which they were passed. Of concern to us is the bill that  cancels another  Law enacted  by the State House of Assembly in 2017 which made  provision for State Public Property  and Recovery Tribunal of 2017.

By this new bill passed by the state house of assembly, if allowed to be assented  in the state, it will cancel the initial Law that provides ground for the investigation and prosecution of anybody that  is found wanting in misappropriating the state  funds. We suspect  that  their  rationale  for such unpatriotic  bill is a ploy for people  who might have looted the  state  funds in the  outgoing government  to  cover up and protect themselves from investigation with the hope of getting away unpunished.

It is for this reason that we strongly condemn this bill and call on the State Governor

Barr. M.A Abubakar not to assent to it for the following reasons:

1. That a sensitive issue that  affects the  lives and the  economy of the people in the  state  should not be passed  without been  subjected  to public hearing.
2. As  a person  with high position in the  Law Profession, the  governor knows the implications of such counter bills to repeal an existing law made to safeguard the property of the state.
3. That this bill is to the detriment of good citizens of the state therefore, repugnant to natural justice.

While we at Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) say no to the bill, we also call on all reasonable and responsible stakeholders in the state  to equally do the same by openly condemning the bill.

Signed:

Mohammed Chiroma Hassan

Programmes Officer, CITAD Bauchi

08036451430

Chiroma@citad.org