National Assembly's One Year of Dashed Hope

Our attention has been drawn to an editorial published in the Punch Newspapers of Monday, June 27, 2016

. Ordinarily,  this should not deserve any response from us, but for the fact that the opinion is coming from a revered news medium such as The Punch which has carved a niche for itself in the world of Journalism. Although an editorial of a newspaper represents an opinion of the publishers and editorial board of the newspapers, it should be based on facts and realities of issues on ground so that the public should not be misled into believing falsehood and half-truths.

The editorial from the onset presented a scenario of a dashed hope judging by what the newspaper thinks that within a spell of one year, things should change for the better in the country through the magic wand of the National Assembly. For the newspaper to state that the Legislators have been legislating the good things of life for themselves at the expense of the people in the past one year, clearly raises many questions as to the objectivity of the motive behind the editorial piece.

The House of Representatives

It is an indisputable fact that within one year, the House of Representatives has focused its attention on legislating for the good governance of the country. Immediately the crisis associated with the selection of the Principal Leaders of the House was resolved the House settled into its legislative business. That explains the unprecedented record of achievements that was made by the House within the first one year. For instance, in the 16 years of uninterrupted democracy in the country, no Assembly, whether in the states or at the national level has introduced a record number of such bills as was done by the current House.

Even though the newspaper acknowledged this feat, that a total of 685 bills were introduced at the House in the first one year, of which 675 were members’ bills and 10 were from the executive. Out of these, 95 bills were passed in just one year; but in a desperate effort to paint the House in bad light, the Punch did not even commend the House for a job well done but went to ask which of the bills are aimed at revamping the economy without scrutinising all the 95 bills passed. A little effort aimed at analysing the bills would have provided them with more than sufficient answers.

Alleged Jumbo Pay

The editorial also said the Legislators are yet to do away with their jumbo salaries and other perks of office thereby insinuation that the MPs are only concerned after their luxuries and not the wellbeing of the people.

Regrettably, the Punch ignored the fact that more than any, the 8th Assembly is very concious and sensitive to the present economic woos bedevilling the country and has responded positively by making the much needed sacrifices. For example, President of the Senate Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, rejected N10 billion the Federal Capital Territory Administration proposed in the 2016 budget for building of  official residences of Principal officers. They are all living in rented accommodation.

Let us remind the Punch that the National Assembly, has also reduced its budget from N150 billion to N115 billion. Even though it is always erroneously and albeit mischiouesly insinuated that this money is shared among the 360 Reps and 109 senators. What is more tragic is the failure of intellectuals to realise that  N150b some 8 years ago is not the same amount now. Inflation has reduced that amount by over 50%. Let the Punch do the maths and convince Nigerians that this assertion is not true.

The truth is, there are a plethora of agencies and bodies that draw their funding from the N115 billio  total allocation to National Assembly such Agencies include the National Assembly Service Commission, Public Complains Commission, National Institute for Legislative Studies which takes as much as N12 billion, the management with over 5000 civil servants, about 3000 Legislative Aides, Senate, and House of Representatives. The overall figure of N115 billion shared among eight (8) agencies and bodies represents less than 1.9 percent of the over N6 trillion budget.

As part of its Legislative Agenda, it is on record that for the first time, it is the current House that introduced sectoral debates. The first sector covered is the diversification of the Economy. Relevant Ministers have taken turns to address the House on steps taken and targets set in their respective MDAs to diversify the economy and boost revenue generation. Indeed, this is the first time Lawmakers and the executive brainstormed, in a frank manner, on the way forward, following the dwindling revenue in the country. Yet, as if the newspaper is hell bent on doing a mischief, this giant and novel idea by the House of Representatives was not recognized by the newspaper.

The Petroleum Industry Bill

On the much talk about Petreolum Industry Bill, it is on record that Speaker Yakubu Dogara, had in the last one year made several calls to the Executive to forward its own version of the proposed legislation to the National Assembly but it all fell on deaf ears.

This compelled the two chambers to procure the services of reknown experts and other consultants to help them craft the piece of legislation. Before June 9, 2016, the Bill has scaled second reading in both senate and the House. We therefore expect the newspaper and other Nigerians to commend the parliament for leading the way and also put pressure on the Executive to do the needful instead of condemnation. Infact, on Wednesday June 28 2016, some civil society organisations appealed to the Federal government to with immediate effect forward the PIB to the parliament for immediate legislation.

The Railway Act (Amendment Bill)

Incase the Punch does not know, The Railway Act amendment and the NTC bills are not executive bills.  They are private members bills that have passed first, second reading and have also undergone public hearing while the report is being awaited for final passage. What more can the parliament do in this instance?

The 2016 Budget

Again, rather than commend the National Assembly for the scrutiny of the budget proposal which led to discovery of some silent issues, the newspaper jumped into blaming the Legislature for the delay in the passage of the budget. If the present administration is to realize its goal as promised under the Change Agenda, it must first start with having a realistic budget. And that responsibility belongs to the Legislature and was religiously and dutifully discharged. As for the wild allegation by the newspaper that important allocations for budgets were expunged to make way for constituency projects, the newspaper has the duty to come out with facts to prove it.

To the contrary, it was the National Assembly that first discovered that the document as submitted by the President was heavily padded by bureaucrats which the Executive later admitted that it did happen and even punitive measures were taken againts the culprits

Part-Time/UNicameral Legislature

The newspaper, in what seems to be a stereotyped opinion on the Legislature, sweepingly concluded that Nigerians do not seem to appreciate the importance of the parliament in a democracy. We feel that rather than instigate Nigerians against the Legislature, the newspaper should contribute its quota in enlightening the public—which is also its duty—on the need to have a truly independent Legislature for the sustenance of democracy. How has the Executive and judiciary faired so far? Are they any better than National Assembly? Why don't we have a part time Executive, Judiciary and Legislature because Nigerians do not seem to appreciate the importance of these Institutions?

The newspaper should be reminded that what is realizable in other jurisdictions may not necessary be realistic in here. The debate on whether Nigeria should operate a unicameral Legislature or retain the existing one has been on for long. And Nigerians have seen the need for each constituency to be represented in the National Assembly in the present arrangement. Also, the issue of whether it should be part time or full time has been in the list of issues Nigerians gave their contributions on, and in all cases the majority opinion has been to maintain the status quo because where as the House represents equality of the people, the senate represents equality of the states which balances the equation and ensures that every state or people no matter how small their population, are adequately represented in the federal legislature. This is why a state like Bayelsa or Ekiti has three senators as Lagos and Kano. This is the wisdom behind the Presidential democracy recommended by the Constituent Assembly in 1978 which gave birth to the 1979 Constitution that was also adopted as the 1999 Constitution.

It should be noted that the legislature is the heart, nerve and hub of democracy without which there can be no democracy. Instead of working to strenghten this institution that directly represents and symbolises our democracy, The Punch, it seems to us that has joined forces with enemies of democracy by setting out to instigate and pitch the hapless and innocent citizens against this arm of government.

By insinuating that the work of the parliament should be made part-time, the newspaper is all out to destroy our hard earned democracy as there are people who will happily celebrate it since they will now have a field day as there wont be anybody to check their excesses.