LESSONS FROM EIGHTH N/ASSEMBLY
There were mixed reactions concerning the ability of the Eighth National Assembly to perform at an optimum level when it emerged in 2015. In fact, during its four-year tenure between 2015 and 2019, there were some level of antagonism between the National Assembly and the Executive arm of government. The consequence of such reported negative alliance between these core arms of government left a significant impression that the Eighth Assembly was a “clog in the wheel of progress”. However, political analysts in other quarters believed that having the three arms of government with varying ideas on how the nation should progress is good for democracy as opposed to a “rubber-stamp” National Assembly.
However, when the eighth assembly finally concluded its tenure this year, there were more mixed reviews on the outcome of its performance. A new research study on the assembly conducted by an independent body, Centre for Legislative Engagement (an initiative of YIAGA AFRICA) released last week laid bare how the immediate past assembly performed in its core mandates of legislation, representation and oversight. From the records available, this is the first and only comprehensive research that has been able to analyse the performance of any legislature since the emergence of Nigeria’s democracy in 1999.
While the Saraki-Dogara led assembly might have been judged by its toxic relationship with the executive in some quarters, this new research drew a verdict on the eighth assembly through the quality of legislations it passed in the span of its time in office. In addition, the research also utilized key yardsticks such as legislations, constituency representation, and oversight functions of the legislature on the executive and judiciary. The study also utilized a very key measuring tool of assessment which has no doubt been relegated to the background in recent times—“constituency activities and the implementation of projects by lawmakers”.
The research, led by the former chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, credited the eighth NASS to have introduced 2,166 bills, while passing 515 pieces of legislations. This in itself is a record in the history of Nigeria’s democracy. Although many of the legislations are yet to be assented to by the president, the eighth assembly has nonetheless been hailed for this feat. Moshood Isah, Media Officer, Yiaga Africa