Tag: 9th Assembly

ANALYSIS: Shortcomings that marred 9th Assembly Under Gbajabiamila

The House of Representatives of the 9th Assembly bade farewell to its members during a valedictory session on Wednesday, 7th June, marking the end of its four-year term, while the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, announced the rescheduling of the Senate’s valedictory session from Thursday, June 8 to Saturday, June 10.

Speaker of the 9th Assembly, Femi Gbajabiamila, took the opportunity to present the scorecard of the House, highlighting the achievements and challenges encountered over the last four years.

During the session, Speaker Gbajabiamila commended the House for its contributions to various sectors and its positive impact on the lives of Nigerians.

Notable achievements included implementing a January to December budget cycle, which brought stability to the budgetary process and enhanced economic certainty. The House also reformed oversight processes to promote better collaboration between government arms and increase transparency in budget expenditure.

The passage of critical legislation, such as the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the Police Act, was also highlighted as significant accomplishments. While the PIA aimed to revitalize the oil and gas sector and create a functional regulatory framework, while the Police Act sought to improve relations between law enforcement and citizens, ensuring accountability and protecting citizens’ rights.

“We passed the Police Act to change the nature of relations between the police and citizens in our country and ensure that police officers who fall short of their responsibilities can be quickly held accountable.

“I sincerely hope that the work of police reform will continue in the House of Representatives until we achieve a system of policing that meets our nation’s needs and reflects the best of us” Gbajabiamila said in his valedictory speech.

While the 9th Assembly achieved significant legislative milestones in its four-year tenure, TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that out of 2,232 bills considered, the Assembly concluded with a substantial 1,197 backlog of bills awaiting second reading, indicating a potential delay in addressing critical issues and implementing necessary reforms.

With another 308 bills pending in committees and a total of 510 bills passed over the course of its four-year lifespan, the efficiency of the 9th Assembly in moving legislation forward has come under scrutiny as the backlog suggests that further measures could have been taken to strengthen the committee structure, improve coordination, and facilitate timely reports and recommendations.

There were also concerns about the quality of some legislative outputs despite the number of bills passed. Critics argued that some legislation lacked the necessary depth, clarity, and attention to detail, raising doubts about the effectiveness and long-term impact of certain laws enacted by the assembly.

Additionally, despite the constitutional provision for affirmative action and calls for increased female representation, the 9th Assembly fell short of achieving gender parity. Constitutional amendments aimed at removing barriers to women’s full participation in politics and governance did not materialize, as admitted by the former speaker.

“To succeed in our shared ambition of building a prosperous and peaceful country, we must do everything within our power to ensure that our daughters and those yet to be born can grow up in a more open, more equal society than their mothers did.

“Unfortunately, we did not succeed in removing some of the constitutional barriers that have long stood in the way of women’s full and unhindered participation in the politics, governance and economy of our nation…I hope the 10th House of Representatives will take up the mantle and do better than we did,” Gbajabiamila said.

Although the assembly made strides in parliamentary diplomacy and defending the rights of Nigerians abroad, ongoing challenges related to security and emigration were also not fully resolved.

“Too many of our young people have lost faith entirely and are choosing in droves to seek their fortunes and their futures in other lands. We are losing some of our best and brightest, and if we don’t act now, the consequences of this loss will shortly become painfully evident,” the former speaker added.

Ironically, however, the lawmaker who represented Birniwa/Guri/Kirikasamma constituency in the 9th National Assembly, Abubakar Fulata described the 9th Assembly as the “most productive of all Assemblies in the history of the National Assembly”.

By acknowledging these shortcomings of its predecessor, the incoming 10th Assembly can build upon the achievements recorded and strive for more effective and impactful governance, ultimately serving the best interests of the Nigerian people.

Gbajabiamila will, however, on 14th June 2023 officially take office as the newly appointed Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

June 8, 2023
May Nigeria never experience this 9th National Assembly again – By Michael Owhoko

By Michael Owhoko, Ph.D

In the absence of 11th hour miracle, when an assessment of performance of the Executive arm of government will be carried out on May 29 next year, using the economy, security and corruption as index, President Muhammadu Buhari may likely go down as a failed President.

If this happened, the Legislative organ of government should largely be blamed. Firstly, for failing to invoke the doctrine of checks and balances to ensure the President discharges his statutory obligations in line with national interest and aspirations. Secondly, for failing to halt breach of federal character principle by the President. Thirdly, for failing to interrogate the Executive for sliding economic indices, worsening corruption, rising insecurity, capital flight, mounting loans, multiple tax burden, unemployment, and decaying infrastructure, including poor electricity and education.

For these flops, the 9th National Assembly is an accessory to current woes of the country, and cannot be absolved. The Legislature is the second organ of Government, free and independent from the control of the Executive, yet, the lawmakers have made it an extension, and apron string of the President.

Signs that the 9th National Assembly will be a weakling and lacking a mind of its own, emerged when the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan said “any request that comes from Mr. President is a request that will make Nigeria a better place”, and would therefore expeditiously ensure passage of legislation therefrom.

I am most certain that even the Chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), whom Lawan was receiving at the time he made this remark, might be shocked at the statement.

With this declaration by the Senate President and head of National Assembly, the Legislature has violated the doctrine of separation of powers and checks and balances as enunciated by French philosopher, Charles Baron Montesquieu, in his book, The Spirit of Law. The intention of Montesquieu was the need to separate the three organs of government, namely, the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, to enable each arm serve as check on the other to ensure equilibrium.

It is aimed at protecting their respective liberty, and preventing any organ of government from becoming too powerful as to transmute into tyranny and authoritarianism. The doctrine has become a template for good governance and global reference for protection and advancement of egalitarianisms. It forms part of constitution in countries where democracy is practiced.

For undermining this doctrine, Lawan has not only sacrificed the trust of the people on the altar of self-aggrandizement but projected President Buhari as all-knowing and omniscient President who can do no wrong, and whose intellectual capacity is beyond the competence of the Senate and House of Representatives combined.

Besides, the National Assembly (NASS) has encouraged the creation and emergence of an all-powerful President with uninhibited liberty to go off course at will even on matters of national interest. For example, the federal character principle as contained in the 1999 Constitution is breached with impunity by President Buhari, and despite criticism, has shown no remorse.

Section 14, Sub-section 3 of the 1999 Constitution says that “The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.”

The Buhari Administration has done exactly the opposite. All key national appointments contravene Section 14, Sub-section 3 as evidently reflected in the dominance of people from the north, particularly, from the Fulani ethnic group. Yet, the Senate sees nothing wrong with this imbalance, as long as it originates from the President. By this, the President has promoted what the constitution intended to avoid – disunity and national disloyalty.

All key and juicy ministries, departments and agencies of government (MDAs), including security agencies, are headed, and firmly in the hands of northerners, just as all three organs of government were headed by northerners up till few weeks ago when Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad resigned as Chief Justice of Nigeria, paving the way for the most senior justice, Olukayode Ariwoola, a southerner, in acting capacity.

It is small wonder therefore that Nigeria is currently plagued by disunity, disloyalty and suspicion induced by disenchantment arising from dominance of the Northern region over other sections. This is an aberration for a country that is made up of different ethnic nationalities, which have agreed to come together under a federation of equal partners, anchored on sincerity, equity and justice, particularly in matters pertaining to appointments and distribution of resources.

In advanced democracies, the Senate would have compelled the President to reverse such appointments to reflect federal character or face impeachment. But the National Assembly lacks the courage to reject Buhari’s nominees or even initiate impeachment threat, obviously, for fear of Executive intimidation.

Put differently, despite the dangers posed to the unity of the country by this constitutional contravention, the Senate has seen no reason to veto the President’s nominees despite backlash concerns and fear of disunity and national disloyalty as envisaged by the Constitution.

When a country deliberately closes its doors against other sections and ethnic groups just to achieve ethnic dominance, unwittingly, misses contributions of intelligent and bright minds from the neglected areas to national development. That the country has been on a downward swing in the last seven years, is the price of nepotism.

Ironically, those who have been favoured by this structural abnormality do not see anything wrong with it, even within the context of the constitution. They keep blind eyes, reminding others that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable. This is an illusion. Attaining peace in the face of obvious mismanagement of diversities and dishonest policies, is a tall order.

From the demeanor of NASS, the law makers are overwhelmed by subservient corporatism and loss of liberty. This has eroded its influence and degraded the premium placed on it by the Executive. This is evident during NASS committee meetings where some ministers, including senior officials of the Executive flagrantly snub summons, particularly during budget review sessions by Committee on Finance and Appropriation. Yet, these same ministers and senior officials are the first to raise grounds for further amendments after budgets have been transmitted to the President, leading in some cases, to delay in passage of the country’s national budget.

Unfortunately, the Judiciary is also unable to invoke the doctrine of checks and balances, as it appears not to have recovered from the intimidation it suffered in the hands of the Executive when operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) in 2016 raided the homes of some federal judges, including serving Supreme Court justices.

Perhaps, if the law makers were courageous enough, and the Judiciary lives up to its billings to restrain the President appropriately, the Executive would have been shaped up.

Calls for federalism, and emergence of separatist movements in Nigeria are symptoms of national discontent. When majority of people are not happy owing to domination of one ethnic group or section over others, coupled with rising insecurity and worsening economy, implies that the government is inefficient.

An efficient government is one that is able to provide “the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people”. This is a measurement performance tool developed by English philosopher and Jurist, Jeremy Bentham, which world researchers and political scientists deploy to assess governments globally.

Since NASS has abdicated its autonomy and authority, who then can challenge the Executive over breaches of federal character principle and other statutory obligations, including economy and security management? If Chief Gani Fawehinmi of blessed memory were alive, no doubt, would have instituted litigation.

NASS appears not to understand the essence of Montesquieu’s theory. Therefore, it will do the country good for law makers to take basic courses in Political Science during their training at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.

As it stands, what legacy will the 9th National Assembly under the chairmanship of Ahmad Lawal be leaving as the law makers vacate office in less than a year from now? Certainly, they cannot be divorced from the performance of the Buhari Administration when the score card is evaluated on May 29, 2023.

Dr. Mike Owhoko, Lagos-based journalist and author, can be reached at www.mikeowhoko.com.

July 18, 2022
Whistleblowing: 9th Assembly Can Still Enact Law – Shehu Sani

Former senator representing Kaduna central, Shehu Sani says the 9th Assembly can successfully pass the Whistleblower Protection Bill before the end of their legislative tenure if there is the political will to do so.

Senator Sani made known his optimism while participating in a radio town hall meeting on Whistleblowing organized by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development (PRIMORG), Friday in Abuja.

According to him, the Whistleblower Protection Bill currently at the National Assembly can scale through despite time running out on the lawmakers if there is political will and concerted effort made.
Senator Sani who urged the National Assembly and Executive arm of the Government to use their cordial relationship to speed up the passage of the whistleblowing and whistleblower protection bill stressed that both tiers of government must always bear in mind that power is transient.

“They (NASS) should speed up and make sure the whistleblower law comes into being since both the National Assembly and Executive portray themselves to be one.

“It is possible to make the whistleblower law within two to three weeks because you do first reading, you do a second reading, then you do public hearing, you do harmonization between the two houses and then you send it to the president.
“You can achieve it, but if you don’t want to achieve it, after the public hearing you will never hear anything about it again and then when you try to raise it they will tell you to turn off the mic.”
Sani stated that the Federal Government is not pushing hard enough for the passage of a whistleblower law due to fear of the law going against them. “Already the government has seen that the fight against corruption is something they should do themselves and in that sense, they are afraid of a law that would make it impossible for them to do what is called selective justice.”
An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Nelson Kebordih said that the enthusiasm that the whistleblower policy came with have diffused following the lack of legal framework, adding that the country was losing a lot due to the current state of things.

Barr. Kebordih called on the legislature to ensure that the long-awaited law contained proper protection mechanisms before passage, adding that incentive for whistleblowing and how to access it must be transparent in the law to encourage citizen’s participation and ownership of the program.
On her part, a Media Consultant and Activist, Princess Halima Jubril described the lack of legislation for whistleblowing in Nigeria as unfortunate.
Jubril who noted that poverty was a big factor that is deterring citizens from blowing the whistle on corrupt acts, however, stated that the spirit of many Nigerians who are been demoralized by the shortcoming of the whistleblowing policy can be reawakened if they are assured of adequate protection and proper legislation.
While, the Editor of the Nigerian Pilot Newspaper, Emmanuel Ibeleme encouraged journalists to be courageous in their job despite facing remuneration challenges.
He urged journalists not to stay on the job if not motivated to avoid destroying the profession.
His words: “If you are not well paid in an organization that cannot motivate you to do what you should do, not what you want to do, then you go and look for something else to do instead of staying there and desecrating the profession,” Ibeleme stressed.
The PRIMORG’s Town Hall Meeting Against Corruption series is aimed at calling the public and government attention to specific issues of corruption in Nigeria.
The syndicated radio program runs with support from the MacArthur Foundation

November 1, 2021