From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
At the inception of the 10th House of Representatives, last year, the speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, said the House would champion reforms and innovations that will benefit the people.
Abbas, who spoke shortly after his emergence as speaker, said the parliament prioritizes the economy and security of the country, as well as social justice. Besides, the speaker said the 10th House would collaborate with the Executive and Judiciary to deliver good governance to the people.
According to him, “ We shall work closely and inter-dependently with the Executive and Judiciary to give Nigerians the good governance they deserve. We stand at a crucial juncture in our nation’s history, where challenges abound, but so do opportunities. We will champion legislations that will uplift the lives of our fellow citizens, promote social justice, and drive sustainable development.
“We will focus on strengthening our security apparatus, collaborating with relevant stakeholders to combat insurgency, terrorism, and all forms of criminalities. We aim to help create a safe and secure environment that fosters economic growth and social stability. “
The House, in September, 2023 unveiled an 8-point agenda that will guide its legislative activities in the next four years. The legislative agenda include: strengthening good governance, improving national security, law reforms, economic growth and development, social sector reform and development , inclusion and open parliament, influencing and directing foreign policy and climate change and environmental sustainability.
But how far has the House of Representatives fared in the discharge of its legislative functions and pursuit of its agenda in the last 12 months?
The speaker, while giving an account of the stewardship of the 10th Assembly, during the “Open Week”, organised by the Green chamber, recently, to enable members of the public interact with lawmakers, said “The 10th House of Representatives has been committed to running an open House that actively incorporates citizens’ input in lawmaking and oversight processes. We have made concerted efforts to listen to the voices of our constituents and reflect their aspirations in our legislative activities.
“Through town hall meetings, public hearings, and stakeholder engagements, we have ensured that the legislative process remains inclusive and participatory. This approach not only enhances the quality of our laws but also ensures that our decisions are rooted in the genuine needs and desires of the Nigerian people. No chamber of the National Assembly has undertaken such an initiative.’
“In its first session, the House introduced 1,351 bills, the highest number in any first session since 1999. Of these, 89 bills were passed, reflecting the House’s commitment to legislative efficiency and effectiveness. The legislative agenda prioritises economic empowerment and diversification to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on oil exports.
Some of the key legislations passed across the eight thematic areas in the House’s legislative agenda includes Electric Power Sector Reform Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023; Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service (Establishment) Bill, 2023; Federal Audit Service Bill, 2023; Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill, 2023; Armed Forces Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023; National Assembly Library Trust Fund Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2024, the South East Development Commission (SEDC) amongst others.
The deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu, sponsored the SEDC bill, alongside other South East members of the House, sees the assent to the legislation as a big milestone by the 10th House. He noted that it would impact positively on the people of the South East zone.
Recall that efforts to get the bill through in the eight and ninth assembly had not been successful.
Kalu added that “this is not just a legislative victory; it is a historic milestone for the South-East geopolitical zone. The commission will receive and manage funds from the allocation of the Federation Account for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, houses, and other infrastructural damages suffered by the zone as a result of the civil war.
“It will also tackle ecological problems and other related environmental or developmental challenges in the South-East States, including Abia, Imo, Enugu, Anambra, and Ebonyi.”
Similarly, the House has introduced bills proposing fundamental changes to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) in the ongoing Constitution review exercise. These include bills proposing rotational presidency with six vice presidents, a single tenure of six years for the President and governors, as well as a proposal for the return of parliamentary system of government.
There is also the state police bill, which is seeking to move policing from the exclusive to concurrent list. The objective, according to the sponsors is to decentralize policing so that states can be able to establish their own police force.
The chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions said the House through the committee has been able to give respite to Nigerians, who are surcharged by MDAs. Etaba pointed out that the committee , recently, ordered the reinstatement of the Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychatric Hospital, Enugu, Professor Monday Igwe, who was unjustly removed from office by the Federal Ministry of Health.
According to him, the resolution of Professor Igwe’s case was a testimony, in addition to a N30million compensation secured for a citizen, who was injured in the course of his employment in the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), underscore the commitment of the 10th House in addressing issues affecting citizens.
“Nigerians have a window to address their matters without spending a dime. We have pro bono lawyers. You don’t need to pay anybody. If you know you can’t take the matter in the committee, we give you a lawyer that can take the matter. And then he proves your matter. If your case is right, we give it to you. The Peoples House, the 10th Assembly under the leadership of Dr Tajudeen Abbas, is doing excellently well with anything that has to do with public petitions, “Etaba stated.
Regardless, while the House, which commenced its annual vacation, last week, believes it has performed very well in the last one year, critics think otherwise. Analysts say the House may have done well in the area of bills. However, there is still a lot to be done especially in the area of oversight.
A school of thought say one of the drawbacks of the Green chamber since its inauguration is alleged lack of a robust oversight of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Those in this school of thought are quick to point to the hasty passage of the 2024 Appropriation Act by the parliament.
Also, critics also point to the alleged failure of the parliament to insist on compliance with its many resolutions by the Executive arm of government.
For instance, Daily Sun checks revealed that the House, in the last one year, has passed no fewer than 600 motions on different issues, with most of them centered on the security situation across the country. Nevertheless, most of the resolutions, including those on security related issues, were never implemented.
Lawmakers, frustrated by the development, recently declared that it was needless for the House to continue to entertain more motions on the spate of security in the country. The House, in May adopted a motion by the minority leader, Kingsley Chinda, to compile all its resolutions on security and send to the Executive arm of government.
Chinda, while speaking on the motion, said the House has reached “several resolutions in its bid to fight insecurity in the country and mitigate its attendant consequences. “ Nevertheless, the lawmaker noted that “unless the House of Representatives matches its resolutions with actions, the faith that the citizens have in the House will wane, and more Nigerians will continue to suffer the negative effects of insecurity in all sectors of the economy.”
President Bola Tinubu had presented the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the joint session of the National Assembly on November 29, 2023. However, the budget was passed on December 30.
Also, critics also point to the alleged failure of the parliament to insist on compliance with its many resolutions by the Executive arm of government.
Analysts say the hasty approval given the appropriation bill and other requests by the Executive portrays the House as beholden to the Executive.
Regardless, the chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akin Rotimi says when the parliament makes “certain accommodation” for the Executive, it is because of the interest of Nigerians.
Rotimi, in a recent interview with an online news portal, explained that the handling of the 2024 budget was a peculiar case, because the government was still trying to settle down at that point.
“For a new administration that was trying to settle in, with its first budget, you can understand why we had to work with them. However, we sent a very strong message to the Federal Government, with all due respect, that we do not expect the 2025 budget to be handled in the same manner because they will have ample time to settle into office. We expect sufficient time to scrutinise the 2025 budget.
“When we make certain accommodations, it is because it is in the interest of Nigerians. It is not that we are doing things hastily; it means that we had to go above and beyond. We had to put in long hours into the night, many at the committee level, scrutinising the budget and engaging in the process.
“ We had to make these efforts because it is in the best interest of Nigerians to align with the January-December financial year. I don’t think we have been—what I hear people say is that we have been too lenient with the executive. I don’t think so, “ Rotimi stated.