A bill aimed at amending the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, to grant the anti-graft agency greater institutional independence, has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
This followed the deliberation on a bill presented by Plateau State legislator, Yusuf Gagdi, during Thursday’s plenary session.
Among its key provisions, the bill seeks to shield the EFCC from political influence and align its structure and operations with international anti-corruption standards.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill at a session chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, Gagdi explained that the proposed amendment is intended to modernise the EFCC’s legal framework, allowing it to effectively respond to the increasingly complex forms of financial and economic crimes across the nation.
He noted that since the EFCC Act was enacted in 2004, the scope of financial crimes has broadened to include cybercrime, cryptocurrency manipulation, illicit financial flows, terrorism financing, and real estate-related money laundering.
Under the current Act, the President does not require approval from the National Assembly to remove the EFCC Chairman.
“The EFCC operates under outdated provisions that do not adequately address these new realities.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,” Gagdi said.
One of the key proposed amendments seeks to limit the President’s authority to remove the EFCC Chairman — a power that is currently exercised solely at the President’s discretion.
Section 3(2) of the EFCC Act, 2004, states: “A member of the Commission may at any time be removed by the President 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.”
The Plateau lawmaker explained that under the proposed changes, removing the EFCC Chairman would require the approval of a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives before it could take effect.
He emphasised that, if enacted, the amendment would help rebuild public trust in the anti-corruption agency.
“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.
“This amendment will not only strengthen Nigeria’s global reputation but also promote good governance, economic stability, and public confidence in the fight against corruption,” he added.
In his contribution, Abia lawmaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Crimes, Ginger Onwusibe, described the proposed amendment as long overdue, pointing out that numerous modern financial crimes were not addressed in the original Act.
