As expected, the controversies, political maneuverings, nocturnal meetings, alignments and misalignments that herald the inauguration of the National Assembly have all come and gone.
The leaderships of the Red and Green Chambers of Nigeria’s apex parliament are now in place, and we now have the National Assembly, and “members of the National Assembly.”
With that, It is now time for the “peoples parliament” to work for the people.
As expected, there were rancours and disagreements and of course eventual agreement- this agreement culminated into the victories and loses that ushered in the 10th National Assembly.
With Senators Godswill Akpabio (APC, Akwa Ibom) and Abdulahi Jibrin (APC, Kano) elected the President and Deputy President of the Senate respectively, while Honourables Tajudeen Abbas (APC, Kaduna) and Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia) elected the Speaker and Deputy Speaker House of Representatives respectively.
The beauty of the emergence of the 10th National Assembly is that it further confirms the resilience of Nigeria’s emerging and growing democracy where it is now being mainstreamed into the consciousness of Nigeria and Nigerians that after every contest, and in every contest, we must all be united as one people, Nigerians with a common destiny.
Consequently, the task of serving Nigerians is now the paramount and uniting concern of every member of the 10th National Assembly.
For starters, the 10th National Assembly carries on its shoulders an enormous amount and quantum of expectations.
This is rightly so because Nigeria is currently fissured in such a way that it looks like our national unity is hanging on a thread.
The 10th National Assembly is coming at a time when Nigerians are facing excruciating economic situation.
A time that the only subsidy known to Nigerians has been yanked off.
A time that every part of the country is burdened by one security challenge or another.
A time when our religion instead of taking us closer to piety and humility is seen as the root of our disunity.
The 10th National Assembly has happened on a Nigeria where the strength we should have derived from our diversity is rather being dissipated to our immolation.
The 10th National Assembly has come when Nigeria needs redemption, an urgent redemption!
From the knowledge of hindsight, the 9th National Assembly was seen, perceived and regarded to have been a rubber stamp of an uninspiring executive.
Whatever achievement the 9th National Assembly made was unfortunately drowned in the disillusion of the perception of a rubber-stamp parliament.
The 10th National Assembly has on its hands, its own destiny.
We have heard of legislative agendas in the time past, and the failures that followed the so-called agendas indicate that there is no such thing as a legislative agenda beyond the constitutional responsibility vested on parliamentarians and the parliament.
This is so because the only agenda that the peoples parliament has is the welfare, progress and protection of the people, and we all know that we are in fast-paced, dynamic and unpredictable world that requires equal dynamism from lawmakers.
To this end, the 10th National Assembly will serve Nigeria more effectively if the unity of Nigeria, the welfare of Nigerians can form the central point of its legislative responsibilities and focus.
It is to be noted that, yes, the three arms of the government are interdependent and partners, but it’s also pertinent that the 10th National Assembly stamp its feet on the ground, and on the side of the people of Nigeria.
In the previous assemblies, there have been series of legislations that had raised the expectations of Nigerians and dashed same at even more propensity.
Such legislations like the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), the whistle blowers bill still pending and several others must be revisited in the interest of Nigeria’s survival.
Others like the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and other such high-impact laws must be further fine-tuned for the benefit of the people of Nigeria and integrity of our economy.
It is important to note that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is reputed for his patriotism and economic planning prowess, however, the 10th National Assembly must necessarily reactivate its oversight responsibilities to ensure that Nigerians are NOT shortchanged for the benefit of the few or group.
Nigerians would appreciate a knowledge driven parliament, a parliament rooted in scientifically proven and sustainable parliamentary solutions to desert encroachment and other existential environmental issues that fuel insecurity in Nigeria.
Nigerians will appreciate and applaud a parliament that will get our security agencies to be alive to their duties in line with standard security protocols.
Nigerians will appreciate a parliament that will work with other arms of the government to fine-tune and create laws that can jump-start our economy in line with world best practices.
Nigerians will indeed appreciate a 10th National Assembly that will make Nigeria a more liveable clime where the young people can see a future.
Sunny Anderson Osiebe
Executive Director
HallowMace Foundation Africa
National Coordinator, The Parliamentary Advocacy Network
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