…As Lawan battles to unplug rubber stamp image
… It’s steaming to take-off-Rep Chinda
…If not for Covid-19, 9th Assembly would have surpassed 8th Assembly-Rep Ogun
Today the national Assembly is officially a year as it was inaugurated on 11th of June 2019.
One year down the line, the good, the bad and ugly sides of the two legislative chambers will be x-rayed.
Nigerians hardly believe anything good could come out of both chambers because it’s largely believed that it’s just an extension of the Executive arm of government.
In the Senate, Ahmad Lawan and other 108 senators had applied wisdom where necessary and had survived till date as the initial hiccups immediately after inauguration were properly handled.
At the beginning of the session, the issue of minority leadership in the House was shabbily handled by the Femi Gbajabiamila led House.
While Lawan respected the list sent to the Senate by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Gbajabiamila who was almost a victim of a similar threat in the eighth Assembly, flagrantly dispected PDP and recognised his men as minority leaders.
This singular development weakened the opposition as it became the walking stick of the ruling party in the House.
The issue has remained unresolved till date as those who fought against the move were made voiceless till date.
The PDP quickly suspended those who worked against the party’s interest but till date nothing meaningful has been done by the party to redress the situation.
Selection of committee chairmen:
In the Senate, those who contested against Lawan were given a soft landing as they were made chairmen of what is generally considered ‘juicy’ committees.
In the House, all those perceived to be enemies of the leadership were sidelined and green horns in legislative business were made chairmen of viable committees.
Fourth timers, third timers had to watch from the sidelines as the green horn legislators goof in their presentations.
Geagraphical spread too was thrown overboard as the entire South East got three grade A committees and Northwest grabbed 13 grade A followed by the South West with 9.
This development did not go down well with most experienced lawmakers in the House that have been largely relegated to the background.
Their sin is laced to the fact that they never supported Gbajabiamila’s speakership ambition.
Rubber Stamp Legislature:
From the day the ninth Assembly was inaugurated, the rubber stamp toga was adorned on it.
Lawan in different fora had openly rejected the rubber stamp toga explaining that the Senate is not out to battle the executive arm of government.
He further buttressed this when during plenary saying President Muhamnadu Buhari cannot send anything that’s evil.
To this end, whatever he sends must be adjudged to be in the best interest of Nigerians.
All the bills bordering on loans and anything from the executive was quickly passed because Buhari’s bill cannot be satanic.
The speaker of the House made it clear that he was not elected to fight Buhari rather he was elected to work for him positively.
Bills:
Both legislative chambers introduced various bills designed to address the peculiar needs of Nigerians.
In one legislative calendar the Senate introduced 352 bills while the House had 831.
The US Congress within the same period had just 13 bills well treated and their resolutions were implemented by the executive arm of government.
In Nigeria, it’s the quantity of bills that’s churned out yearly that determines the score card of both chambers.
Both chambers had promised to treat the Petroleum Industry Bill, otherwise known as PIB within six months.
One year after, both chambers are still waiting for the executive bill that will herald the PIB.
PIB is the oldest piece of legislation in Nigeria spanning five assemblies.
The Senate after listening to the voice of reasoning finally dumped the obnoxious anti-social media bill.
Another bill in both chambers that may lead to protests is the vaccine Bill also known as the Infectious Disease Bill.
In the Senate it’s tagged the Health Safety Bill but the content is same with the Infectious Disease Bill.
Amazingly, 104 senators out of 109 promoted it clearly pointing to the fact that it will sail through with ease in the Senate.
In the House, it was sponsored by the speaker and two other lawmakers.
This bill is one bill that may give NASS a good name or an ugly name at the end of this Assembly.
But in a brief chat with two prominent opposition lawmakers, Kingsley Chinda and Sergius Ogun, they both believe that NASS for now is relatively okay but steaming to take-off.
Chinda listed his position below:
Internal administration looks good but lacking in being a strong voice of the people.
1. Legislation is not bad
2. Representation is as per individual member
3. Oversight is below average.
On his part, Rep Ogun believes that so far so good, the ninth House is okay but could have done better than the eighth Assembly if not for the Covid-19 pandemic.
Conclusively, while the Senate is battling to pull off the rubber stamp toga, the House under the watch of Gbajabiamila is still under massive re-construction.
The House may remain a construction yard till June 2023 if proper re-engineering is not carried out by its present crop of leaders.
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