NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: Beyond Hasty Approval Of Every Proposal From The President (OPINION) By Isaac Asabor
If there is any action that was unanimously carried out by Nigerian lawmakers recently that irked this writer to be inspired to express this view, it is unarguably that of the Senate, on Thursday, approving President Bola Tinubu’s request for the sum of $800 million loan as an additional fund for the financing of the National Social Safety Net Programme set up by the National Assembly.
In as much as this writer is not opposed to the approval, the hastiness with which it is approved given the fact that the president barely resumed duty on May 29, 2023, calls for the need to express this view as a way of reminding our lawmakers on how Nigerians expect them to work and conduct themselves in the National Assembly.
First and foremost, it is expedient to remind them that the Assembly is the voice of the people within the realms of the government and that they are elected to represent their respective constituencies to uphold this important role and execute it with the same confidence the people have reposed in them. In fact, our lawmakers should not be oblivious to the fact that anybody who is privileged to be elected by the people, has to know that it is a great and historic responsibility. So it becomes a binding mandate on the lawmakers to give due deference to that confidence bestowed on them by the people and immediately set about the task of serving them with the integrity, patriotism, and selflessness expected of them.
The reason for the foregoing advisory view cannot be farfetched as the oath that the National Assembly members swear is a clear testimony of the sacred duty laid upon them by the people in their constituencies. Therefore, by virtue of that oath, they are urged to serve the interest of their people and the nation without fear or favour, affection or ill will. By nature, human beings are more often than not divided between loyalties and our lawmakers are no exception to this. In a situation like this, they should be reminded, first by their conscience, that the highest loyalty is owed to none but their people. Above and beyond everything else, National Assembly members should be men and women of the people, hence their highest priority should be accountability to their people before any other vested interests.
At this juncture, it is expedient to say that inherent in the principles of democracy is the need to constantly consult the masses whiles serving in a public office. To go back to the people and lay before them the successes and shortcomings in our collective effort for development and together envision a way forward. For it goes without saying that the policies that are discussed and acted upon within the corridors of power affect the daily lives of the people who vested those powers in the policymakers. Therefore, democracy dictates that they are consulted as frequently as possible and kept abreast of proceedings that take place in the four halls of the Assembly. So, given the foregoing, it goes without saying that literarily imprisoning themselves in the cocoon of Abuja, and only to go back to their various constituencies by each passing political dispensation to solicit votes from their constituents is foolhardy and a disservice to the people.
Without resorting to sounding sanctimonious in this context, it is incumbent on the recently inaugurated lawmakers into the 10th National Assembly to be transparent and accountable in the dealings and proceedings carried about on both floors as they are key ingredients that must be safeguarded in the work of the assembly. The reason for the foregoing cannot be farfetched as democracy has become a popular choice of governance mainly because it enhances the power of the people and it is a moral responsibility of the bearers of that power to be accountable to the people who entrusted it to them. In fact, the democratic process is one rooted in accountability to the people and transparency in all of the actions of the public officer, and without these two virtues, then democracy becomes nothing but another ideology that fails the test of time and with that failing the common aspirations of the people.
All these virtuous concepts and great democracy will remain a pipe dream in the womb of our wishes and aspirations if the National Assembly shies away from the sometimes awkward choices that are necessary for fulfilling them. A democracy can never be called one when the voices of the people remain unheard and irrelevant in the policy-making process. And the only people who can make these possible are the National Assembly members. So it is upon them the duty to nurture Nigeria’s experiment with democracy so that the aspirations of our people will be reflected in the governance process. So here you’re entrusted with the voices, cries, and hopes of the Nigerian populace. As you open for this recently kicked-off political dispensation, this writer wishes you fruitful proceedings.
Given the foregoing, it is expedient to urge the dual leadership of the newly inaugurated National House of Assembly to always conduct business on the floor in line with the ideals behind Montesquieu’s theory of Separation of Powers which means that, a different body of persons is to administer each of the three departments of government. Again, no one of them is to have a controlling power over either of the others. For the purpose of preserving the liberty of the individual and for avoiding tyranny separation of powers is necessary.
In fact, the reason why the 10th National Assembly should try as much as they can to refrain from being a rubber stamp to the executive arm of government is that such a salient position, when taken and maintained at all times, will accelerate the growth and development of the country. So, the National Assembly is in this context being urged not to resort to hasty approval of every request from the President so as not to make it look like a rubber stamp in the eyes of the public.
