The House of Representatives has advanced a bill to amend the EFCC Act, aiming to limit presidential influence and strengthen the Commission’s institutional independence.
The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, to grant greater institutional independence to the anti-corruption agency.
Sponsored by Yusuf Gagdi, a lawmaker from Plateau State, the bill was debated during Thursday’s plenary presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu. Gagdi said the proposed amendment would align the EFCC’s operations with international anti-corruption standards and shield it from political interference.
“The EFCC operates under outdated provisions that do not adequately address these new realities,” he said, noting that emerging financial crimes now include cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, and terrorism financing.
A key provision in the bill seeks to limit the President’s authority to remove the EFCC Chairman. Under the proposal, such removal would require the approval of two-thirds of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Gagdi added that the amendment would strengthen public trust and enhance Nigeria’s credibility in the global fight against corruption. Abia lawmaker Ginger Onwusibe described the bill as “long overdue,” saying the current law fails to address contemporary financial crimes.
The bill was unanimously passed for second reading and referred to the relevant committee for further legislative review.