Nigerian legislators as “Bad People”!
The Senate President Ahmed Lawan recently complained that Nigerians see Senators as bad people. He claims that this is because legislators are misunderstood, but that under his leadership the Senate will do things to improve the level of trust between them and Nigerians. It’s difficult to fathom how Senators can fail to understand why Nigerians see them as “bad people”.
It isn’t because they don’t understand them, on the contrary it’s because they understand them only too well! Replete with aged former office holders whose record in office is little to write home about, pictures of sleeping Senators give the chamber more of an appearance of a retirement home than a vibrant organization. Nigerians are resigned to what appears to be their habitual selfserving and anti-people actions.
No matter what responsibilities legislators claim to be carrying out which require their humongous self-granted allowances, the truth of the matter is that they have a wellearned reputation for lavish lifestyles, regular globetrotting, constructing mansions or hotels and generally living “la vida loca” (the good life) at the nation’s expense. The latest example of their self-indulgence is the budget for renovation of the NASS buildings which at N37 Billion is more than five times the original cost! Understandably this hasn’t gone down too well amongst long-suffering Nigerians. The Resource Centre for Human Rights said that in a situation in which public school buildings nationwide are dilapidated, hospitals are decrepit, tap water has dried up, and roads are in total disrepair, and disease is spreading in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, the money should have been used to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians rather than pamper the political class.
The Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and the Social rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) both came out strongly to condemn the N37 Billion renovation budget as a “misplaced priority”. Indeed SERAP called it “another white elephant project…antithetical to the constitutional oath of office of lawmakers” and vowed to file a lawsuit against it. The idea that the NASS buildings require outrageously expensive renovation flies in the face of facts. In 2016 renovations of the US Capitol Dome was completed at a cost of $60millon. It was the first major overhaul in more than 50 years. It beggars belief that the NASS buildings require over $100 million to renovate after just 20 years!
Nigerian Lawmakers insist on being referred to as “Honorable” and they should realize that the word has a meaning which should be seen in their actions and decisions. Until their self-entitlement mentality changes, little can be expected to change for the better in the nation. Legislators need to be reminded to be thankful for their lifestyles and financial liberation rather than complaining in an ungrateful manner. This is especially true when Nigerians are currently digesting a new report by the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) which claims that billions are “stolen” in constituency funds through monies pocketed in connivance with the various executing agencies.
They uncovered duplication of many contracts using the same description, same narrative, same amount and same location. Added to this it’s no longer news that at the expiration of every Assembly, legislators walk away with fridges, television sets, motor vehicles and the other paraphernalia of the office at knockdown prices. Replacing these is the first item on the agenda after inauguration. Despite all this squander mania and allegations of massive fraud, NASS members remain unrepentant. The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs offended public sensibilities by complaining that the fans and air-conditioners in NASS were not working properly.
This is a nation where citizens regularly experience electrical blackout for weeks on end! He further said that Nigerians should go and see the type on offices Ministers are “enjoying” as if public service is now a competition for luxury at public expense! He claimed NASS required unspecified electronic “gadgets” to oversee the N10.6 Trillion Budget despite all reports showing that corruption remains unabated. Quite regrettably the Senate Deputy Chief Whip when speaking on Channels Television “Politics Today” program derogated opponents of the N37 Billion expenditure when he said that “Nigerians do not value the democratic process we have. If they do they won’t be saying what they are saying”.
Perhaps he needs reminding that Democracy is about justice for the people and such expenditure at this time quite doesn’t pass that test. If legislators cannot work in buildings where the offices aren’t comfortable, the toilets aren’t functioning, and the roof is leaking, how then do they expect the majority of civil servants to do their work? The immense opportunity cost of the renovation disappointingly highlights the priorities of government. In stark contrast to the N37 Billion for renovating NASS buildings, a mere N22.89 Billion was budgeted for road maintenance in the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) capital budget. The 2020 budget is in itself a deficit budget which requires the nation to borrow thereby mortgaging the nation’s future.
Nobody really expects NASS to reverse this expenditure and suffer some inconveniences today for the benefits of tomorrow. However it’s not out of place to ask whether the reason why despite all agitation no legislation has been passed ascribing death penalty for high level corruption or outlawing multiple pensions for political office holders is because the building is not “befitting”. Legislators appear to be losing sight of their primary function.
History is about both the good and the bad things that happened in the past and since 1999 the NASS is yet to be remembered for anything good other than aborting President Obasanbo’s third term agenda. In twenty years of democracy Nigerian Senators and Reps have earned a reputation as unfeeling and uncaring treasury looters. As the nation moves into 2020 members of the Senate and House of Representatives must remember that it’s by their own actions that they are judged. Unless their priorities change, long suffering Nigerians may just continue to view them as “bad people”.