The Nigerian Senate has always been a subject of major discuss in the Nigeria polity, most especially in corruption, in fact most times the only news we hear about the upper legislative chamber is that of one scandal or the other and less of what the legislative chamber was originally designed for, as against the major aim of its setup within the democratic tenets. The main idea behind legislative functions within any democratic polity is to ensure quality policy-making process, accountability and good governance through effective checks on executive “absolutism” in the exercise of governmental tasks and oversight functions. The legislature is the most important of all the three organs of government because it is the laws made by the legislature that are interpreted and enforced by the judicial and executive arms respectively, but can this be really said of that in Nigeria?
The legislative arm has always been involved in one scandal or the other, little can be said of notable policies or laws made, that has touched the lives of Nigerian positively. Right from the inception of the fourth assembly, starting with the case of Evans Enwerem who was alleged of perjury and age falsification and eventually impeached by his colleagues. Let’s not forget Chuba Okadigbo too, who was impeached for gross misconduct and abuse of office. History won’t forget the role the leadership of Anyim Pius Anyim played in reducing the powers of the anti-corruption agencies to prosecute senior government officials, and stripping the President of the power to appoint the chairman of the agency, but thank God for the role former President Obasanjo played in vetoing that law. The fourth Assembly alone had 3 Senate Presidents in the space of 4 years.
The fifth Assembly between 2003-2007, the initial Senate President between 2003-2007 Adolphus Wabara, resigned based on allegation of corruption of receiving the sum of 55 million from the then Minister of Education, Fabain Osuji. The tenure was completed by Ken Nnamani. The 6th and the 7th Assemblies were in no way different from the past, has this was headed by David Mark, the Otukpo man who and still the only man in history of Nigeria to lead the Senate twice. Ordinarily one would think that his administration would achieve so much because of the consistency of the leadership, but nay, it’s the same story of one allegations and abuse of office. I am sure prior 2015, if this had been pointed out, many would have been quick to say, it is because PDP is a corrupt party, but am sure we all know better now than party is not the problem, if the current scandals rocking the 8th Assembly led by a candidate of the APC is anything to go by.
The current 8th National Assembly in fact has tolled the line of its predecessors on the issues of scandals and abuse of office. The current 8th Assembly has at least 11 members facing one crime or the other in court. Likes of Senate President Bukola Saraki charged with false declaration of assets, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, charged with forgery, Senator Godswill Akpabio, charged with embezzling 108bn, Senator Buruji Kashamu, charged on drug related issues, Senator Sani Yarima, charged with embezzling 1bn, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, charged with embezzling 15bn, Senator Abdulaziz Nyako, charged with embezzling 15bn, Senator Joshua Dariye, charged with embezzling 1.2bn, Senator Stella Oduah, charged with contract inflations, Senator Sam Egwu, charged with embezzling 80bn and Senator Danjuma Goje charged with embezzling 25bn.
Indeed, the public opinion is no longer in favour of the National Assembly that has grown wild and neglected the people it represents. The National Assembly had become a self-serving one, from bogus salaries and allowances, to gross abuse of office. The National Assembly need to retrace its steps in the discharge of its duties and be more accountable to the people, not until then will there be any respect for it. Nigerians also must now start paying attention to people that get elected into the upper legislative chamber, has the legislature holds a special role in development of Nigeria. In a democracy, the role of the legislature as a policy-making body and constitutional “watchdog” cannot be over emphasized.
Adedamola David Adejobi
@damoladejobi
