The National Assembly
plays a significant role in the political system of Nigeria. It covers every
aspect of Nigeria’s existence. Without its effectiveness, Nigeria’s
socio-economic development will be brought to a standstill.
According to the Office
of the President of the Senate, the National Assembly is the highest law-making
body in Nigeria. It is a bi-cameral legislature with two (2) equal legislative
powers in terms of law making. The Senate is the “upper chamber” and the House
of Representative is the “lower chamber”. Nigeria practices the “presidential
system” of democracy as against the “parliamentary system”.
The National Assembly
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is established under section 4 of the
Nigerian constitution and comprises a 109-member Senate and a 360-member House
of Representatives. The body, modelled after the federal congress of the United
States, is meant to guarantee equal representation of the states irrespective
of size in the Senate and the proportional representation of population in the
House. The National Assembly is located in the federal capital, Abuja. Bills
introduced to the parliament must get the concurrent approval from the both chambers
before the president could sign them into law.
The National Assembly
has broad oversight functions and is empowered to establish committees of its
members to scrutinise the bills and conduct of government officials.
The Senate has the
unique power of impeachment of judges and other high officials of the executive
including the Federal Auditor-General and the members of the electoral and
revenue commissions, the power is subject however, to prior request by the
president.
The House and Senate
must agree before a bill is passed into law, which in turn must receive the
president’s assent. Should the president delay or refuse assent (veto) the
bill, the National Assembly may pass the law by two-third of both chambers and
overrule the veto and the president’s consent will not be required.
The National Assembly
is the “engine room” of Nigeria’s existence. It is a place where all the major activities
that propel Nigeria’s progress are carried out. The ineptitude, negligence and
lack of political will of most members of past National Assemblies have
seriously stagnated Nigeria’s growth and economic development.
If the National
Assembly plays its role significantly in timely approval of budgets, passing of
citizen-impact bills and does not allow discrimination, anti-party rife,
intra-party rife, nepotism, ethnicity and religion never to play key roles in
its leadership, Nigeria will be raised to the realm of lofty and eye-catching development.
The Senate under the
leadership of Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the House of Representative
under the leadership of the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, have taken one of the most
impactful steps in this democratic dispensation by the constitution review that
has taken place. The constitution which is the “leadership manual” of Nigeria
(and any democratic nation) can only be amended if the National Assembly begins
the process.
If the National
Assembly must make the desired impact Nigerians hope for, it must fervently,
without jeopardy of the wellbeing of Nigerians promote the basic institutional
framework that are necessary to achieve good governance such as a commitment to
transparency, effective government structures and oversight, anti-corruption
laws, whistleblower protection and freedom of the press.
Since the National
Assembly is the centre of Nigeria’s progress, if it fails, Nigeria fails. If it
succeeds, Nigeria succeeds. Therefore, Saraki and Dogara should ensure at all
times that their leadership trajectories make life-changing impact on Nigerians
so that Nigeria’ progress will be rapid and its unity and existence can be
sustained against all odds.
By Terfa Naswem