- …say ‘restructuring, power devolution, local and state police should be lawmakers’ focus’
By AYO ESAN, ABUJA
Last Tuesday marked the inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly. This followed a proclamation letter sent by President Muhammadu Buhari penultimate Thursday, which ended the tenure of the Eighth National Assembly.
Following Buhari’s letter, the clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, said the 8th National Assembly’s tenure officially terminated by 12 midnight on June 8.
The struggle for the leadership of the Ninth National Assembly, which started immediately after the conclusion of the 2019 general elections in March this year, also ended when the members successfully elected the Speaker and the Senate President, respectively, for the House of Representatives and the Senate.
In the election that took place on the floor of the Senate and the House, Senator Ahmed Lawan from Yobe and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila from Lagos were elected Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. Both are not only members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, but also the adopted candidates of their party and President Muhammadu Buhari.
Also, Senator Ovie Omo- Agege from Delta State and Hon. Ahmed Wase were elected Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker, respectively, for both chambers of the National Assembly. Like the duo of Lawan and Gbajabiamila, Omo-Agege and Wase were also the adopted candidates of the APC and President Buhari.
Watchers of political events in the country as well as political analysts believe that the emergence of candidates picked and fully backed by the APC as leaders of the National Assembly will give room for a robust relationship between the Executive and the Legislature in the next four years.
They are also of the view that with such a pliant leadership steering the affairs of the National Assembly, both the ruling APC and Buhari’s Presidency will have no excuse for not performing during this second term.
But many are wary of this development, believing that the Ninth Assembly may eventually turn out to be a mere rubber stamp, because of the manner in which its leadership emerged.
This position has, however, been punctured by APC apologists, who believe that both Lawan and Gbajabiamila have stayed long enough in the National Assembly not to allow themselves to be pocketed by the Executive.
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, who also doubles as the Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum, is of the opinion that the duo of Lawan and Gbajabiamila have a good understanding of the role of a legislature in a democratic setting, adding that he’s convinced that they would deploy their rich experience in ensuring that the country have a National Assembly that works with and for the people.
Congratulating the new leadership of the NASS and other newly elected lawmakers in both chambers, Fayemi said, “This is indeed a good beginning and I am convinced that the rich legislative experience and patriotic zeal of the new leaders would help reposition the National Assembly to achieve more dividends of democracy for the people.
“Senate President Lawan and Speaker Gbajabiamila have paid their dues in their respective callings and in the National Assembly, where they have earned the respect and admiration of majority of members as well as Nigerians as very distinguished and patriotic citizens, who can be trusted with leadership at that high level.
“Neither a rubber stamp legislature nor a cantankerous one is good for our development as a nation. I have no doubt in the ability of the new leadership to strike the right balance, by putting the country and the people first, so that the peace, progress and prosperity that Nigerians want can be achieved.”
Political Analysts also believe that the task before the Ninth National Assembly is enormous, especially with a splendid record of performance by its immediate predecessor, the Eight National Assembly.
The Eighth National Assembly under the leadership of Senator Bukola Saraki, it would be recalled, received accolades from Nigerians, not only for the high number of bills passed into law, but also for maintaining its independence even in the face of threats and intimidation.
The pertinent question being asked now is, what should be the focus of this current National Assembly?
Setting agenda for the Ninth Assembly, an Abuja – based lawyer, Mr. Kayode Ajulo, told our correspondent that the legislators’ jobs have been spell out in the constitution, adding that they only needed to digest the constitution and hit the ground running.
Ajulo said, “Chapter Two of the Constitution, as amended, is there for them as agenda; they should study it extensively and comprehensively and ensure the implementation of the provisions therein. The said chapters speak of our nationhood aspirations. Those lofty injunctions are not there for nothing, it’s not cosmetic and the new leadership should use them as guides. I’m in the process of pulling out the chapter and publishing same for mass circulation to our lawmakers.”
Also speaking with our correspondent, the National Coordinator of Democracy Vanguard, Mr. Adeola Soetan, said the jobs of the national legislators had been readily spelt out for them with the siege that had enveloped the nation, which had led to mutual ethnic suspicion.
Soetan said, “First is restructuring and power devolution to federating units. They need to revisit relevant bills of the past and re – work them for national stability. Security should also be of Paramount importance. A thorough appraisal with the Executive is appropriate now.
“Independence of the National Assembly in relation to inter-arms mutual working relationship is also necessary. Then they should work on Electoral bill to make election free, fair and credible through electronic transmission of results and digital applications to electoral process.
“Local government autonomy bill should equally be revisited so as to make Local Government viable as the basic Fulcrum of national development.”
Also, an Abuja based management consultant, Mr. John Aku, would want the 9th National Assembly to focus on local government autonomy and devolution of power to the states.
Aku said, “I believe the Ninth National Assembly should focus more on local government autonomy. Real development only takes place at the local level. So, they should ensure that they work towards the realisation of granting more power and more allocation to the local governments.
“Members and the leadership of the 9th National Assembly should also concern themselves with devolution of power to the states
“The president has given green light towards this direction, when he recently backed the call for the setting up of the state and local government police. Also, in his Democracy Day Speech, the president also alluded to this when he urged the states to ensure development in their areas by encouraging foreign investments.
“What I am saying is that the Assembly should think along the same path with the President. The idea of state governors coming cap-in-hand to Abuja for bailout, even to pay salary, should stop. More power and autonomy should be worked out for the states, so that they can develop on their own.
“The APC set up a committee on true federalism. The report of the committee has not been made public. The Ninth Assembly should ensure they work towards that direction.”
A member of the Campaign for Democracy, Comrade Sola Olawale, believes the Ninth Assembly should focus on how to improve the security situation in the country.
According to him, what they need to do in this regard is to legislate on the creation of state and local government police.
Olawale said, “The security situation has worsened. This is the time to amend our laws and give room for state and local government police. This is the only panacea for the current prevalent insecurity.
“They should also work with the Executive in the area of creation of jobs for our teeming youths. This is also a worrisome situation and the Ninth Assembly will do well by focusing on creation of jobs.
“President Muhammadu Buhari in his Democracy Day Speech said it is possible to bring about 100 million out of poverty in the next 10 years, the national legislators should also focus on that.”
