As Nigerians continue to reflect on the state of the nation after 54 years of independence, observers say that the role of the legislature remains critical in efforts to deliver good governance to the people.
They are, however, of the view that the legislature has striven since the onset of democratic governance in Nigeria to evolve an enduring legislative culture.
Some analysts, nonetheless, insist that the frequent changes in the membership of the legislature via elections and the ignorance of legislative proceedings, which newly-elected members often display, have constituted some drawbacks.
Besides, inexperience, leadership tussles and frequent changes in the leadership of the legislative houses are some other factors which have slowed down the fulfilment of the legislative culture, they add.
Without doubt, the passage of bills by the legislative houses has not been an easy task and analysts note that the large number of bills still pending before the two chambers of the National Assembly attests to that presupposition.
They, nonetheless, note that the National Assembly has made giant strides in the passage of some laws that are meant to promote good governance, in line with the principles of constitutional democracy.
Such laws include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act, the Independent Corruption and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Act, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act, the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and more recently, the Evidence Act.
Nevertheless, the analysts insist that financial recklessness and sometimes, the lack of decorum in the way legislative activities are conducted, have somewhat dented the image of the legislature.
They, therefore, add that such developments tend to make many people to wonder whether or not the legislature is promoting efforts to engender and strengthen good governance.
Indeed, there have been allegations of financial impropriety levelled on the house leadership, while the lawmakers at times resorted to exhibiting unruly behaviour while resolving some contentious issues.
However, Sen. Nkechi Nwogu (Abia-PDP), said that such an era in the history of the country’s legislature, which he described as the era of “Banana Republic’’, was fading away.
“This goes to show that the legislature at the national level is developing, growing and maturing properly,’’ she said.
Nwogu said that the National Assembly now enjoyed stability, continuity and sustainable legislative processes.
“The only concern that I have is the alarming and worrisome rate of legislative turnover,’’ she added.
The senator pointed out that the unfortunate development had somewhat stunted the growth of the nation’s legislature.
“It will be splendid if Nigerians can realise that legislators are like the red wine: the older the better.
“In most developed nations, people do not practice the turn-by-turn membership syndrome because it stunts the growth of the legislature.
“What happens is that when new sets of legislators come in, it takes them close to four years to begin to learn the ways things are done.
“It is usually costly training and retraining new lawmakers at the expense of legislative growth. This is very unfortunate and I do hope that Nigerians can find better ways of doing things other than this trend — obsession for seats in the legislature.
“However, if somebody is found to be incompetent or incompatible with legislative tenets, then he or she can be changed. But if somebody is found to be good and purposeful; then, the person should be allowed to continue,’’ she said.
On the citizens’ calls for the speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Nwogu said that efforts were underway to pass the bill.
She described PIB as a complex bill with 16 pieces of other legislations
“We are taking out the obsolete and duplicated aspects and we are putting in all the things that are required in the making of a 21st Century petroleum industry bill.
“It is a bill that will stand the test of time. It is a bill that will compare with the laws of other countries that are also endowed with oil and gas.
“Before the end of the current session, I know that we will pass the PIB,’’ she said.
All the same, Nwogu expressed the Federal Government’s commitment to revitalising and restoring the lost glory of Nigeria.
“We are having challenges in the power sector as a result of the non-maintenance of our electricity equipment and facilities over the years.
“President Goodluck Jonathan has, however, put in place a lot of policies that would bring about an improvement in the country’s power situation.
“For instance, the government has provided over N2 billion for the Gas Revolution Project.
“This is expected to dovetail with the power sector reforms. From this year upward, Nigerians will see a revolution in terms of economic growth; in terms of infrastructural development,’’ she said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, in his goodwill message during Nigeria’s 54th independence anniversary celebration, reaffirmed the commitment of the House to upholding the ideals of a united Nigeria.
He pledged that the House of Representatives would ensure that Nigeria took its rightful place in the comity of nations.
Assessing the performance of the seventh National Assembly, Rep. Jones Onyereri (PDP-Imo) said that the legislature, in its deliberations, endeavoured to safeguard the national interest.
“This tells you in effect that any law that is made in the two chambers reflects the correct opinion of the people.
“The opposition is there to make input, the majority is there to make input and consequently, there is a balance of opinion,’’ he said.
Onyereri stressed that the series of thorough debates in the floor of the House were in the best interest of the country, as they were aimed at delivering the dividends of democracy to the citizens.
He, however, commended the Federal Government’s efforts to provide good governance in the country.
He stressed that democracy was the best form of government for any country which wanted to experience a rapid development.
Another member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Peter Akpatason (Edo-APC), called on Nigerians to have a sober reflection on the state of the nation after 54 years of nationhood.
He underscored the need for all Nigerians to make collective efforts to tackle the menace of insurgency and other challenges confronting the country.
“After the civil war, we have remained one indivisible country until recently when insurgency seems to undermine that status,’’ he said, adding: “It is a major challenge that we need to look at.’’
Akpatason said that unemployment and blatant abuse of democratic principles were some of the major factors threatening the country’s unity.
“The level of unemployment has become so high that some individuals don’t see any reason to be patriotic anymore,’’ he added.
The lawmaker, however, urged Nigerians to reflect on the gains and losses that were so far recorded in efforts of the federal, state and local governments to provide social services.
Akpatason stressed the need for Nigerians to take advantage of the recommendations of the recently-concluded national conference in plans to move the country forward.
Nevertheless, Mrs Fatima Oche, a 54-year-old civil servant whose birthday coincides with Nigeria’s Independence Day, urged all legislators at the national and state levels to make laws that were beneficial to the citizens.
She said that the country required laws that were designed to promote good governance and people’s safety.
“The government’s primary function is to provide sustainable security for its citizens. This is because without security there can be no meaningful development.
“There is need for youth employment too, as many graduates from various institutions are now moving around without jobs,’’ she said.
Besides, Oche underscored the need to improve the country’s educational policies so as to guarantee an enduring education system.
“This is because frequent changes of policies had destabilised the academic system,’’ Oche said.
All in all, political scientists underscore the need for all the legislatures in Nigeria to make purposeful laws that would foster the country’s development in a pragmatic and more coordinated manner.