Should the Legislature be Made Part-time in Nigeria?
To reduce corruption, save overall cost of governance and enhance efficiency, some concerned analysts have recommended a part-time Legislature in Nigeria, especially at the federal level; despite the strident opposition of some national lawmakers to the s
Abimbola Akosile
* The biggest area of corruption is not the National Assembly because they legally approve their fantastic emoluments. Blocking of leakages should be institutionalised in every sphere of governance to reduce corruption. In my mother’s house, we were able to reduce pilfering by domestic staff by about 80 per cent, due to the new blocking of leakages that we instituted. Nigeria can learn from this. Since fighting corruption after the crime is impossible, preventing the crime before it happens should be our focus now. - Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State
* Is it not part time already, seeing that they work for less than 130 days yearly.....but steal all year round? - Mr. Aiyegbusi Abiodun, Engineer, Lagos State
* Yes, part-time legislation is what obtains in many advanced climes. It ought to be run on part time basis since the lawmakers don’t sit every day. Vacations or and recesses must not attract any payments as that will be tantamount to corruption that Nigeria is already trying hard to stamp out. Such monies, time, energy e.t.c must be better invested in vital areas of need. We must block all leakages. Our two national chambers must duly get paid genuinely for work done and not put the future of Nigeria at stake by pretending to work full time and getting jumbo pays with all those holidays in place. - Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos State
* If it is possible, the whole legislature should be scrapped. - Mrs. Mary Ayeni Tehinse, Lagos State
* Certainly, that is our way out of this shock of recession, caused by cabals, politicians - those that have no fear of God. In fact, it should be part time as board members, with only sitting allowance, transport and accommodation provided, while their sitting should be quarterly or as appropriate. On the part of Nigerians, sacrifice will be required because it is not going to be easy. Anyone who seeks wisdom for financial or self-gain has missed the point. - Mr. Dogo Stephen, Kaduna
* Yes, if it is less attractive someone like Dino would not be in the upper chamber. - Mr. Eyitayo Ayobamidele, Lagos State
* We need a part-time legislature in Nigeria, especially at the federal level. Until the salaries, allowances and the number of aides of the legislators are drastically reduced, the Nigerian Legislature will remain largely a gathering of gold-diggers masquerading as politicians. There’s no way their huge packages would not attract people with ulterior motives, vested interest and selfish interest! To get things right, such allowances must be slashed! Then, will the Nigerian legislature attract the most patriotic and selfless representatives with no corruption incentive! * Mr. David Joshua Egbochuo, Legal Practitioner, Fidelity Law Firm, Ikoyi, Lagos State
* Should Nigeria adopt part-time lawmaking, especially at the federal level? Yes, and yes again. We’ll save lots of money, for building schools, roads, power stations etc. By the way, what obtains now looks like ‘part-time’ legislating with ‘full-time’ pay. - Mr. E. Iheanyi Chukwudi, B.A.R Resources, Apo, Abuja
* Yes, it should. To reduce corruption, save general cost of governance, enhance efficiency, part time Legislature in Nigeria, especially at the federal level. Lower salaries and allowances with reduced number of legislative aides will attract only the most patriotic and selfless representa- tives devoid of any corruption tendencies and incentives. It’s what obtains in advance climes like USA, and even Ghana. Why not Nigeria? - Mr. Apeji Onesi. Lagos State
* Yes, absolutely. It is a drain on our collective patrimony. - Mr. Tayo Olatoye, PR Practitioner, Lagos State
* The answer is obviously yes. Legislative duties are there in developed countries where we copied democracy. Our problems include greed, selfishness, lack of fear of God and above all, lack of love for humanity. The legislator should sit once in each quarter, which means three times in a year. The allowance should be minimal to see those who have Nigeria at heart to serve. - Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna
* Yes, the legislature should be made part-time in Nigeria. - Mr. Ololade Bamidele, Lagos State
* Given the various scandals trailing the present crop of legislators especially at the national level, it would be good for Nigeria to embrace the part-time suggestion for the Legislature. The huge funds they allocate to themselves for doing almost nothing in a calendar year cannot be justified, and if pruning to part-time would reduce the cost of governance, then I support it totally. This means overall less cost of governance, and thus less incentives for corrupt potential legislators. This disincentive will help to attract only those who are willing to serve the people, who will emerge through a transparent electoral process. - Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos State
* I support part-time legislature, it will reduce cost, and it will be more effective than those who are there right now. - Mr. Yusuf, M.B.O, Nda Aliu, Kwara State
* Most of our lawmakers in the National Assembly have their various businesses and our constitution recognises the Legislature as a more direct involvement of the people in governance. I subscribe to part-time legislature in the federal and state levels in Nigeria, since this will help them have time for their constituents, have serious interactions, monitor the different projects and contribute some ideas to the communities at large. This does not mean that it will save cost, but it will promote development and bring effective interactions and mutual benefit with the grassroots and indirectly bring economic growth to the society at large. It will allow them to perform their three functions, namely: enactment of laws; appropriation of funds, and oversight functions and implementation of projects, and thus breed a national culture of transparency, good governance and openness, which can make the Legislators to be more responsible in the management of public trust, and accountability, because they are being selected to help the country. - Mr. Michael Adedotun Oke, Founder, Michael Adedotun Oke Foundation, Abuja
* Yes, this would help curb laziness, corruption, costs and elicit the right commitment required to move Nigeria forward. - Ms Nkeiruka Abanna, Lagos