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| Senate President, Bukola Saraki |
It is a fact that many discerning Nigerians are concerned and
becoming wary of the recent behavior of the National Assembly. Many see
the institution as becoming too confrontational and acting ultra vires.
The recent spat between the National Assembly, particularly the upper
legislative chambers and the Presidency has undoubtedly cast a dark
cloud over the polity. The feud since it began is reaching dangerous
proportions and if not abated soon, might just engulf all and sundry.
It is said that when two elephants are fighting, the grass suffers. In this case, obviously we the people are the proverbial grass that is bearing the brunt of the battle of the two elephants. As a result of the feud, the long overdue confirmation of electoral commissioners has been allegedly deliberately been delayed by the Senate simply to
make a point to the executive about its powers. Similarly, the government’s budget would be passed late again for the second year running of this administration.
This has been the usual trend of the current National Assembly, especially the Senate concerning pertinent issues. Instead of concentrating on issues that would be of immense benefits to those who placed responsibilities and tasks on them, they seem to dwell more on issues bordering on their personal and selfish interests, and also to romance their egos. Take for instance the issue with the Customs boss. The main issue bordering on customs duties that concerns the generality of Nigerians has been relegated to the background.
Instead egoistic feuds have taken the front burner, as well as bickering over the issue of uniform wearing. Also, with the revelation and subsequent “exoneration” of the Senate President over ownership of the imported N300 million bulletproof SUV which the Customs impounded because of non-remittal of the full duties, many Nigerians discern this is not unconnected to the face-off between both parties.
Concerning the budget, we all know how important the speedy passing and implementation of a budget is to us as a country. When the budget was presented to the National Assembly, some of us thought by now it should have been passed. However, we are into the 4th month of 2017, and there is no inkling that the budget will be passed by the National Assembly soon. With numerous important bills languishing at committees, not a few Nigerians find it a little disheartening that the Senate has chosen to prioritize Ali Ndume, the Senate President’s alleged bullet-proof SUV, and the authenticity or otherwise of Melaye’s university certificate.
Late last year, the Senate passed the Code of Conduct (amendment) bill, 2016, with the National Assembly taking over power to appoint staff of Code of Conduct Bureau/Tribunal from the Presidency. This is not unconnected to the corruption charges the Senate President is currently facing at the Code of Conduct Bureau Tribunal. With the current amendment proposals to the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and if finally passed into law and assented to, powers of the Presidency to make rules and regulations for the bodies would automatically be transferred to the National Assembly.
Similarly, some Senators have been demanding for immunity and life pension for presiding officers of the National Assembly after their tenure in office. This is also not unconnected to the myriad of corruption charges many of them are currently facing. According to the Senators, presiding officers, who should enjoy life pension, are President of the Senate, Deputy President of Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives. The lawmakers also said the presiding officers in the legislature ought to enjoy immunity since the executive and judiciary are enjoying it.
From all indications, the National Assembly, particularly the Senate seems to have degenerated into a den of individualistic predilections. It’s almost as if they seem to be only interested in the flexing of their muscles, infamously known for the display of thuggery and are unashamedly acting as agents of retrogression. Holding the executive to ransom and using a form of blackmail at every possible opportunity is fast becoming a trade mark of theirs.
Many Nigerians see the Senate as a retiree home and a safe haven of some sort for former (corrupt) governors, as a good number of them are currently in the Hallowed Chamber. These ex-governors turned Senators are still receiving pensions as former governors. While we are currently groaning under the weight of the fall of the naira, fluctuating price of crude oil, and a recession, senators who once served as governors are receiving a double income. This is in spite of the fact that states had to receive bailout funds from the federal government due to their inability to pay salaries. Till date, millions of naira in pensions is still transferred to the accounts of former governors when most of them are responsible for creating the myriad of problems we are currently facing and trying to tackle as a nation.
The legislature is an assemblage of the representatives of the people elected under a legal framework to make laws for the good health of the society. It is also defined as the institutional body responsible for making laws for a nation and one through which the collective will of the people or part of it is articulated, expressed and implemented. By performing the key functions of legislation, representation and oversight the legislature should actively engage in the development and implementation of laws, policies and projects promoting democratic principles of governance.
However, over time, the Nigerian parliament has failed to live up to its expectations and yearnings of many Nigerians. In most cases, whenever you hear rumbling between the executive and the legislature is when the flow of cash between them is “slow”. The National Assembly has a yearly ritual of accusing the executive of failure to fully implement the budget of the preceding fiscal year. However, budget defence by federal ministries, parastatals and agencies have been reduced to a yearly “parley” where various legislative committees and members of the executive negotiate sharing of the “national cake” with no interest to the Nigerian people. They have shown that their predilection for corruption and crave to amass stupendous wealth at the expense of the masses is more powerful than the power of oversight they have.
Hence, the legislature with its current bullying stance and individualistic nature is fast losing any iota of respect many Nigerians have for the arm of government. There have been increasing calls particularly for the Senate to be scrapped. What our legislators do not know or probably know but choose to ignore is that they have a golden opportunity to help develop this great nation of ours. What the legislators needs to begin doing is to wholeheartedly and patriotically commit themselves to doing something collectively and individually that can alter the ways things are done in Nigeria for good.
Rather than representing their pockets and enriching themselves and cronies, members of the National Assembly should selflessly serve their constituents through quality representation. They should begin to use their positions and leadership role to effect changes that would benefit the entirety of the citizenry. The commitment and selflessness of lawmakers is crucial for Nigeria to achieve the desired “change” many of us voted for. Thus, the opportunity to serve is one that must be taken seriously and used for the common good of all. Or are we watching the epic series of Senatorial Breaking Bad? We are watching…
Credit: http://leadership.ng
It is said that when two elephants are fighting, the grass suffers. In this case, obviously we the people are the proverbial grass that is bearing the brunt of the battle of the two elephants. As a result of the feud, the long overdue confirmation of electoral commissioners has been allegedly deliberately been delayed by the Senate simply to
make a point to the executive about its powers. Similarly, the government’s budget would be passed late again for the second year running of this administration.
This has been the usual trend of the current National Assembly, especially the Senate concerning pertinent issues. Instead of concentrating on issues that would be of immense benefits to those who placed responsibilities and tasks on them, they seem to dwell more on issues bordering on their personal and selfish interests, and also to romance their egos. Take for instance the issue with the Customs boss. The main issue bordering on customs duties that concerns the generality of Nigerians has been relegated to the background.
Instead egoistic feuds have taken the front burner, as well as bickering over the issue of uniform wearing. Also, with the revelation and subsequent “exoneration” of the Senate President over ownership of the imported N300 million bulletproof SUV which the Customs impounded because of non-remittal of the full duties, many Nigerians discern this is not unconnected to the face-off between both parties.
Concerning the budget, we all know how important the speedy passing and implementation of a budget is to us as a country. When the budget was presented to the National Assembly, some of us thought by now it should have been passed. However, we are into the 4th month of 2017, and there is no inkling that the budget will be passed by the National Assembly soon. With numerous important bills languishing at committees, not a few Nigerians find it a little disheartening that the Senate has chosen to prioritize Ali Ndume, the Senate President’s alleged bullet-proof SUV, and the authenticity or otherwise of Melaye’s university certificate.
Late last year, the Senate passed the Code of Conduct (amendment) bill, 2016, with the National Assembly taking over power to appoint staff of Code of Conduct Bureau/Tribunal from the Presidency. This is not unconnected to the corruption charges the Senate President is currently facing at the Code of Conduct Bureau Tribunal. With the current amendment proposals to the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and if finally passed into law and assented to, powers of the Presidency to make rules and regulations for the bodies would automatically be transferred to the National Assembly.
Similarly, some Senators have been demanding for immunity and life pension for presiding officers of the National Assembly after their tenure in office. This is also not unconnected to the myriad of corruption charges many of them are currently facing. According to the Senators, presiding officers, who should enjoy life pension, are President of the Senate, Deputy President of Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives. The lawmakers also said the presiding officers in the legislature ought to enjoy immunity since the executive and judiciary are enjoying it.
From all indications, the National Assembly, particularly the Senate seems to have degenerated into a den of individualistic predilections. It’s almost as if they seem to be only interested in the flexing of their muscles, infamously known for the display of thuggery and are unashamedly acting as agents of retrogression. Holding the executive to ransom and using a form of blackmail at every possible opportunity is fast becoming a trade mark of theirs.
Many Nigerians see the Senate as a retiree home and a safe haven of some sort for former (corrupt) governors, as a good number of them are currently in the Hallowed Chamber. These ex-governors turned Senators are still receiving pensions as former governors. While we are currently groaning under the weight of the fall of the naira, fluctuating price of crude oil, and a recession, senators who once served as governors are receiving a double income. This is in spite of the fact that states had to receive bailout funds from the federal government due to their inability to pay salaries. Till date, millions of naira in pensions is still transferred to the accounts of former governors when most of them are responsible for creating the myriad of problems we are currently facing and trying to tackle as a nation.
The legislature is an assemblage of the representatives of the people elected under a legal framework to make laws for the good health of the society. It is also defined as the institutional body responsible for making laws for a nation and one through which the collective will of the people or part of it is articulated, expressed and implemented. By performing the key functions of legislation, representation and oversight the legislature should actively engage in the development and implementation of laws, policies and projects promoting democratic principles of governance.
However, over time, the Nigerian parliament has failed to live up to its expectations and yearnings of many Nigerians. In most cases, whenever you hear rumbling between the executive and the legislature is when the flow of cash between them is “slow”. The National Assembly has a yearly ritual of accusing the executive of failure to fully implement the budget of the preceding fiscal year. However, budget defence by federal ministries, parastatals and agencies have been reduced to a yearly “parley” where various legislative committees and members of the executive negotiate sharing of the “national cake” with no interest to the Nigerian people. They have shown that their predilection for corruption and crave to amass stupendous wealth at the expense of the masses is more powerful than the power of oversight they have.
Hence, the legislature with its current bullying stance and individualistic nature is fast losing any iota of respect many Nigerians have for the arm of government. There have been increasing calls particularly for the Senate to be scrapped. What our legislators do not know or probably know but choose to ignore is that they have a golden opportunity to help develop this great nation of ours. What the legislators needs to begin doing is to wholeheartedly and patriotically commit themselves to doing something collectively and individually that can alter the ways things are done in Nigeria for good.
Rather than representing their pockets and enriching themselves and cronies, members of the National Assembly should selflessly serve their constituents through quality representation. They should begin to use their positions and leadership role to effect changes that would benefit the entirety of the citizenry. The commitment and selflessness of lawmakers is crucial for Nigeria to achieve the desired “change” many of us voted for. Thus, the opportunity to serve is one that must be taken seriously and used for the common good of all. Or are we watching the epic series of Senatorial Breaking Bad? We are watching…
Credit: http://leadership.ng
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