The House of Representatives has taken steps to curtail the President’s power to unilaterally remove the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, a move aimed at strengthening the anti-graft agency’s independence.
The Green Chamber on Thursday passed for second reading a bill that would require presidential approval from two-thirds of both chambers of the National Assembly before the EFCC boss can be removed from office.
Currently, the President can sack the commission’s chairman at will, without recourse to the legislature.
The proposed amendment to the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, sponsored by Yusuf Gagdi, who represents Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency of Plateau State, seeks to insulate the anti-corruption body from political interference.
Leading debate on the bill during plenary presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Gagdi explained that the existing legal framework governing the EFCC had become outdated and inadequate to tackle emerging financial crimes.
“The EFCC operates under outdated provisions that do not adequately address these new realities. Furthermore, the existing Act does not provide sufficient guarantees for the independence of the Commission, exposing it to external influence and political interference,” he said.
The lawmaker noted that since the commission’s establishment in 2004, financial crimes had evolved to include cybercrime, cryptocurrency manipulation, illicit financial flows, terrorism financing, and real estate-based money laundering.
Section 3(2) of the current EFCC Act permits the President to remove any member of the commission, including its chairman, “for inability to discharge the functions of his office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct or if the President is satisfied that it is not in the interest of the Commission or the interest of the public that the member should continue in office.”
Under the proposed changes, such removal would only take effect after securing approval from two-thirds of senators and members of the House of Representatives.
Gagdi argued that the amendment would restore public confidence in the commission and enhance its credibility.
“The bill presents a decisive step towards strengthening Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework. It seeks to ensure that the EFCC operates as an independent, professional, and transparent institution that is responsive to modern financial crime realities,” he stated.
He added that the reform would “not only ensure Nigeria’s global reputation, but also promote good governance, economic stability, and public confidence in the fight against corruption.”
Supporting the bill, Ginger Onwusibe, who represents Isiala Ngwa North/Isiala Ngwa South Federal Constituency of Abia State and chairs the House Committee on Financial Crimes, described the amendment as overdue.
Onwusibe pointed out that numerous contemporary financial crimes were not captured in the original legislation.
After unanimous support from lawmakers, the bill was passed for second reading and referred to the relevant House committee for further legislative work.
