Nigerian Senate to launch Transparency and Delivery Commission

In line with the Legislative Agenda approved by
the Senate, the President of the Senate today
has announced the intention of the Senate to
inaugurate an independent Transparency and
Delivery Commission to review and improve the
oversight systems and tools of the Senate.
The Commission will be led by a working group
consisting of a world leading research institution
and a partner institute in Nigeria and will be
advised by an internationally acclaimed anti-
corruption expert.
The independent Commission will work closely
with the Senateand the Senate Committee on
Anti-Corruption & Financial Crimes to draw up a
robust oversight scheme and strengthen the
internal structuring and capacity of the National
Assembly to fulfil its role as an anti-corruption
institution.
The Commission’s work will be two-fold. Initially
it willconcentrate on analysing the processes
and tools by which the Senate and the National
Assembly in general can, using its legislative
remit, assist the anti-corruption agenda of
President Buhari and more specifically
strengthen the institutions through legislative
reforms.
The following medium-term goal is to then
deliver recommendations for better ways of
working within the Senate and to ensure that it
meets the highest global standards includingthe
newly announced Commonwealth Secretariat
anti-corruption ‘kitemark’ system.
Specifically, the group will:
1. Map out how the Senate could use its
oversight tools to actas a catalyst for greater
transparency and anti-corruption in other parts
of the Nigerian state both at the Federal and
State Levels.
2. Assess how the Nigerian Senate functions as
a scrutiny and policy making body and how it
can improve in this role
3. Undertake a review of the mechanisms of the
Nigerian senate and identify areas for
improvement in senate efficiency in
implementing its legislative agenda and itsanti-
corruption capacity.
4. Look at international and regional examples
of best practice – such as the Commonwealth
Secretariat ‘kitemark’ – and suggest tangible
reforms the Nigeria Senate could implement to
improve transparency and the policy delivery
process internally and across government.
Signed
Yusuph Olaniyonu
Special Adviser (Media and Communication)