The proclamation of the 10 National Assembly came at the critical situation as Nigeria faces an economic malaise that has consigned millions of citizens to “Multidimensional Poverty. The challenge before legislature therefore is to ensure that the aspirations of all Nigerians are considered during the lawmaking process.
The expectations of the citizens for the newly inaugurated assembly is much higher considering the governing APC controlling the two chambers. In the current 10th National Assembly, APC has 59 senators, PDP 36, LP 8, SDP 2 NNPP 2, APGA 1 and YPP 1. In this composition, the opposition parties altogether have 50, which gives renewed strength for diversity. In the House of Representatives, the APC has 162 seats, PDP 102, LP 34, NNPP 18, APGA 4, ADC 2, SDP 2 and YPP 1.
Given the composition of opposition parties in the red and green chambers they can pull their weight when it matters most unlike in the 9th Assembly where opposition parties were unable to achieve much. Most likely the opposition members in the assembly will checkmate any compromise of the independence of the legislature. As the country and citizens witnessed during the immediate-past assembly where it became instrumental in jeopardising national interest by granting frivolous executive loan requests both domestic and foreign without blinking an eyelid.
The 9th assembly was a mere rubber stamp which failed to ensure financial discipline and prudent management of the nation’s economy with unprecedented debt burden on the nation. The country is using 50% of its revenue to service debts. Debt servicing gulped N7.04 trillion under the immediate-past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The 9th National Assembly was unable to assert itself as an autonomous institution, preferring to treasure political party affiliation over and above national interest.
In that dispensation, the executive arm of government was always certain of maximum support and approval of all proposals and requests, no matter how unpopular, injurious or backward. No doubt, it is good to have a responsible legislature for the purpose of harmonisation and development but when it gets to the level where the executive is always right, then such level of questionable cooperation becomes worrisome. The three arms of government are expected to operate independently and complementarily, not dependent in the manner the former assembly did.
Elected leaders of the National Assembly and the members generally need to know that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), sections 4 (1) & (2): (1) states: “The legislative powers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be vested in a National Assembly for the Federation which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives. (2) The National Assembly shall have power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Federation or any part thereof with respect to any matter included in the Exclusive Legislative List set out in Part 1 of the Second Schedule to this Constitution.
The same constitution vests power on them, to deliberate upon matters of national importance, public issues, problems and needs which is an important function of a legislature. They also perform the critical function of oversight on the executive and ensuring government spending aligns with Legislative intents.
All the lawmakers in respect of party affiliations shall remain focused on the legislative agenda for the emancipation of citizens. Both of them are in the saddle as a people’s trust on them across the length and breadth of Nigeria. Let the legislators’ loyalty remain to Nigeria and Nigerians, who will judge their success not by the number of bills passed but by improving their socio-economic status arising from the laws. In other words, the good must be seen and felt by Nigerians.
This is the moment for the members to be circumspect, roll up they sleeves and all hands must be deployed on deck to alleviate citizens unbearable suffering, poverty, insecurity, unemployment, etc.
With the current composition of seats in the two chambers of the National Assembly, the opposition parties can pull their weight when it matters most. They should return to the old order when the National Assembly prides itself in ‘reporting’ errant serving ministers and heads of parastatals who defy its summons, to Mr President. A lawmakers who scrambles for constituency projects cannot be in the best position to make laws that will impact the people positively.
As elected representatives of the people, they are expected to assert the will of the people by invoking the relevant provisions of the constitution in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities of law making, supervising the executive arm and prevent waste and corruption.
We cannot afford the misfortune of parading elected representatives who are whipped into line by executive. There has to be a balance of power and of forces, for our nation to ever dream of attaining the expected growth that our leaders have touted so often. To be fair, a legislature that cannot supervise and check the excesses of the executive is not worth its name at all. Truth is, such an assembly cannot claim to represent anyone, when the chips are down. They represent only themselves, only their interests and their stomachs.
There is need for the elected leaders of the National Assembly and the members at large to remember that much as they are expected to toe along, their loyalty should be to Nigerians in order to guarantee optimum performance.
Dukawa writes from Kano.
