– Osaiyekemwen Confidence
Honourable Esosa Iyawe, the representative for Oredo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has called on the Federal Government to convert forfeited and abandoned properties, both in Nigeria and abroad, into office spaces for government agencies and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Highlights from Hon. Esosa Iyawe’s Address:
Asset Recovery as a Tool Against Corruption:
Hon. Iyawe highlighted that asset recovery is a powerful yet underutilized tool against domestic and international corruption. The Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act provides a robust legal framework for managing and recovering such proceeds.
Federal Government’s Authority:
He emphasized that the Federal Government, through a dedicated Directorate, has the authority to allocate permanently forfeited property to security and other government agencies.
Previous Initiatives:
In 2017, the Federal Government successfully converted properties seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into office spaces for various government agencies. This move saved the country approximately N180 billion in rent and office building expenditures.
Current Challenges:
Hon. Iyawe expressed concern over the ongoing difficulties faced by government agencies across the country in securing office accommodation due to high rent costs.
He also pointed out that over 50 confiscated assets from politically exposed persons, civil servants, and others are currently unoccupied and deteriorating.
Resolutions Passed:
i. Renovation and Conversion:
The House urged the Federal Government to renovate and convert permanently forfeited lands and buildings into offices for Federal Government agencies that are currently operating from rented spaces.
ii. Committee Oversight:
The House mandated the Committee on Public Assets to ensure compliance with this resolution.
Hon. Iyawe’s proposal aims to reduce government expenditure on rents, efficiently utilize forfeited properties, and address the office accommodation challenges faced by federal agencies.
