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The Oyo State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the state anti-corruption agency bill into law.
This followed the third reading and presentation of the report of the Committee on Public Account, Finance and Appropriation read by its Chairman, Hon Kehinde Olatunde representing Akinyele 2 state constituency at plenary.
Speaking on the eventual passage of the executive bill into law, the Speaker of the House, Adebo Ogundoyin. said the anti-corruption agency was aimed at controlling and regulating finances as well as preventing corruption not only among the political office holders but also among public servants and other residents of the state.
According to him, the new law and the anti-graft agency will present the state government as having zero tolerance for corruption and be able to attract both local and foreign investors for economic development.
His words: “The law establishing the agency has been so designed in a way that will not hinder or duplicate the activities of federal anti-graft agencies including the EFCC and ICPC but will further complement their activities to completely rid Oyo state of corrupt tendencies and practices.
“If Governor Seyi Makinde could promise to present himself for probe by putting aside his immunity in case of allegation of impropriety, then the people of Oyo state and indeed Nigeria should be convinced of the readiness of the PDP led government in the state to run a transparent and corrupt free administration.”
It will be recalled that before the passage of the anti-corruption agency law, the House Committee on Public Accounts, Finances and Appropriation conducted a public hearing where opinions and submissions of different stakeholders were received, collated and thoroughly scrutinized and considered.