Why the 8th Senate is Able to Assert Itself
This is the first time in the history of this country that we are having a truly independent National Assembly; a strong and vibrant Legislature, working as an independent arm of government in conformity with the constitution of our land. Many Nigerians are used to seeing the Legislature working as an appendage of the Executive; we are used to seeing lawmakers operating as errand boys of the Executive and taking everything thrown at them by the President. Back then, the Executive changes the leadership of lawmakers at will, whether at state or federal level.
As a result, some Nigerians think this current independent Legislature at the federal level is an aberration. I am shocked that some think it is wrong for the Senate to truly scrutinize, and if unconvinced, reject nominees of the President for appointments. This ill-informed people also think it is wrong for the Legislature that owns the power of appropriation to take charge of our annual budgets. For the record again, let it be known that the Legislature has exclusive authority to amend budgets. It is appalling seeing many, unnecessarily, excoriating the Legislature for asserting itself this time around and playing its constitutional role.
Yes, this is the most powerful Senate in the history of Nigeria and it is good for our democracy. Way back, senators were mainly nominated by their godfathers. This 8th Senate is dominated by people (some are former governors) who are still very much in control of their states. These are truly independent-minded men of means and power who can’t be pushed around by the Executive. This is why the Senate in particularly has been operating as an independent arm of government as prescribed by our laws.
Let’s take a look at the caliber of people I am talking about and you will understand the source of the strength of the 8th Senate. Bukola Saraki, Aliyu Wamakko, Bukar
A gallant army Captain (Mohammed), four policemen and two residents are the latest victims of the persistent attacks by criminal gangs in Ikorodu West and Ikorodu North areas of Lagos State. This latest bloody attack last Sunday took place in Isawo area of this troubled town. The slain captain and the policemen, who laid down their lives, are heroes. I am shocked that military and police chiefs are yet to visit the families of these gallant security agents. These men fought and died for us to live. Report said that a point, late Captain Mohammed mounted the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and battled the criminals, forcing them to retreat. He was shot when he came out of the APC.
In this same Isawo, ten young Department of State Security officers were killed last year. Over one year after, their killers are yet to be apprehended. Scores of residents have been killed by rampaging militants. The crisis in Ikorodu has persisted for long, simply because of the failure of governments at all levels. The insecurity in Ikorodu in particular and Lagos State in general is unprecedented in the history of the state. This is a big shame. The federal government is the biggest culprit here. The military Joint Task Force in Ikorodu is ill-equipped. The solution to the problem is not in bombing the creeks of Ikorodu. Of course, the criminal gangs will not wait for them to be bombed. These murderous militants Baba Ibrahim, Adamu Aliero, Theodore Orji, Godswill Akpabio, Sani Ahmed Yerima, Sam Egwu, Ike Ekweremadu, James Manager, Jeremiah Useni, Jang Jonah, Barnabas Gemade, Akume George, David Mark and Goje Danjuma. As the late K.O Mbadiwe used to say in those days, these are men of “timber and caliber.” This is why the 8th Senate in operating in line with global standards.
Another interesting thing about the 8th Senate is that it also has another group of people, who may not be stupendously rich or control states, but are focused on the independence of the Senate. These people are ready to lay down their lives for an independent Legislature. In this group are people like Baba Kaka Garbai, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi and Shehu Sani.
Because this strong Senate has refused to work as an appendage of the Executive, all sorts of steps are being taken to rubbish the red chamber in particular, and make the lawmakers look like criminals before Ni- must be killed. They must be physically taken out. To actualize this, the military JTF requires armoured attack helicopters, gun boats and well-trained manpower. Intelligence and technology are also vital here. So, the JTF also require geo-position interceptor and GSM UMTS System to intercept/locate kidnappers’ GSM calls. They also need drones/unmanned aerial vehicles to identify locations of criminal gangs. The gallant soldiers on ground in Ikorodu lack all these.
The carnage in Ikorodu assumed a frightening dimension over a year ago and must not be allowed to linger. It is a shame that many homeowners in Ikorodu have become refugees in Lagos. Many families have lost their bread winners. Many have been orphaned. In some cases, entire families have been wiped out. For how long must this killing field continue spilling blood in a country with a government? This is the shame of our nation.
This morning, I am challenging the Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakina and Army Chief, Tukur Buratai to provide the JTF in Ikorodu all the equipment I have listed. The Lagos State Government should also assist the military with some of these apparatus. The soldiers on the frontline in Ikorudu must also be placed on special generous allowance. I expect Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to start this swiftly with his security vote. gerians. One of the cheap blackmail the Executive has been peddling for almost two years now is saying that corruption in the Legislature is fighting back. Haba! I am not saying all federal lawmakers are saints, but to cast aspersion on the entire Legislature is most uncharitable.
The Executive also uses the so called “huge” budget of the Legislature to paint them black before Nigerians. For example, an impression is created that the N115 billion budgeted for the federal Legislature in 2016 was used entirely for the lawmakers. This is not true. The Executive will not tell Nigerians that salaries of over 2000 civil servants working in the National Assembly are also paid from the budget of the Legislature. Capital and recurrent expenditures of the National Legislative Institute of Nigeria, The Public Complaint Commission and the National Assembly Service Commission are also covered by this budget.
The Executive will also not tell Nigerians that the budgets of so many federal agencies surpass that of the National Assembly. The Central bank has budgeted N421 billion for its activities in 2017. The Nigerian Ports Authority’s budget for 2017 is N250 billion. That of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation should be close to N1 trillion.
Now to the big question: Do we really
The level of ineptitude displayed by the Ishaq Oloyede-led Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in the ongoing registration for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Institution Matriculation Examination is unprecedented in the history of the body. JAMB has never been associated with this kind of confusion, which is being compounded by grossly inadequate registration centres. For example, the entire Uyo in Akwa Ibom State has only two registration centres. It is also sickening that appropriate rehearsal and test-running of the new registration system introduced by the body was not carried out. As a result, majority of prospective candidates are struggling to register for the examination. Just monitor the branches of the banks involved in the process and you will find thousands
A couple of years back, Governor Rauf Aregbesola bought an helicopter which he said would be used for surveillance in Osun State. I doubt if it was ever used for that purpose for a day. At a point, the chopper was leased to Lagos-based Odengene Air Shuttle Services, OAS, because the state government could not maintain it. The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria has since taken over the management of OAS. The story in town now is that the helicopter is missing. A pressure group in the state known as “Nigeria Awake” is asking Aregbesola for the whereabouts of the helicopter. The National Coordinator of the group, Diran Odeyemi said there had been several incoherent claims from Aregbesola and people working with him about the helicopter. In the first place, the decision to buy the helicopter was a misplaced one. I can’t understand why a state that is persistently struggling with paying salaries, should buy helicopter. Aregbesola should retrieve this Osun asset, and sell it to offset some of its backlog of salaries. need a very strong, vibrant and independent Legislature? The answer is an emphatic yes. A Legislature operating according to its constitutional role as an independent arm of government is “win win” for democracy and the people of the country. It is imperative for the success of any democracy, because democracy thrives on checks and balances. A strong Legislature is necessary to check the excesses, lawlessness and over-bearing influence of the Executive in this part of the world.
For me, the Buhari-led Executive must learn to work with the Saraki-Senate in the interest of our nation, instead of resorting to blackmail. Lobbying tools must be effectively used here. This is the standard in developed democracies in the world. In fact, in the United States, the Executive engages professional lobbyist to smoothen relationship with the Legislature. In this part of the world, many think more of bribery when they hear somebody recommend “lobbying.” This is a misleading perception. Lobbying is not about giving bribe. It can be done without bribery. It is more about goodwill and making concessions. For example, offering a new health centre to a Legislator in his constituency may see him contributing to a swift passage of a particular Executive Bill. So, the Buhari-led Executive should move quickly and engage professional lobbyists. They should be people capable of abiding by the ethics of lobbying. This is the way forward for our nation. of prospective candidates around, trying to make payment without success. Oloyede and his men could not respond fittingly to the challenges of the ongoing registration, necessitating a shift of registration deadline. So, how would they tackle the challenges that will certainly arise from the main examination? I can see a bigger problem ahead. The truth is that facilities at most of the test centres are not ready. JAMB has never witnessed this kind of clumsiness. It is a big shame. Oloyede and his men are putting our children under absolutely unnecessary stress. Lest I forget, the nonsensical UTME mock examination was also cancelled just few hours to D-Day, with a deceitful excuse. I am surprised that this inept JAMB boss has not been fired by the Education Minister, Mallam Adamu Adamu. Oloyede should save us from all these embarrassment by resigning.