Politics
Tinubu, Abbas Harp On Executive, Legislative Synergy At 2024 Open House Week
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday underscored the importance of collaboration between the Executive and Legislative arms of government in a bid to deliver the dividends of democracy and good governance.
President Tinubu stated this while delivering a keynote address at the opening of a 3-day ‘House Open Week’ with the theme: ‘Improving Inclusion Through Citizens Engagement’ organised by the leadership of the House of Representatives.
Mr. President who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, observed that the choice of the theme was “apt, timely and vital because it underscores the importance of Executive and Legislative collaboration.
“Our gathering here today, I must say, is happening at a critical point of our nation’s journey, journey to greatness.
“The challenges before us demand collective efforts that obliterate political differences in all forms”, he said.
While declaring the event open, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas noted that achievements recorded so far were products of a harmonious working relationship that exists between the 10th House and the Executive arm of government under President Bola Tinubu.
The House had, during the period under review, introduced 1,351 bills, the highest number in any first session since 1999 and passed 89; considered 679 motions out of which 672 (99%) were being considered at various committees, while seven (1%) were negatived. Among these motions, 43 (6.0%) were referred to ad-hoc committees and 629 (93%) to Standing Committees.
According to him, out of the 240 petitions received so far, 40 petitions/cases have been closed while 10 have been laid before the House for resolution. Same has also been demonstrated in cases of industrial disputes between organised labour and the government.
Speaking on the oversight visits and inspections by the House in one year, the Speaker disclosed that Committees visited 107 Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) and projects nationwide, despite the delay in the inauguration of most of the standing committees that were inaugurated between November and December 2023.
“The various legislative activities highlighted in our Scorecard were made possible by the harmonious relationship between the 10th House of Representatives and the other arms of government in the first year of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Speaker said.
This should be appreciated against the backdrop of the familiar friction associated with the legislative and executive arms in the earlier part of the democratisation process.
“Without prejudice to the requirement of checks and balances, which is the hallmark of democracy, the 10th House of Representatives, the executive, and judicial arms of government have continued to enjoy mutual institutional support for democratic good governance.”
He maintained that: “Through public hearings, investigative committees, and rigorous debates, we have held the executive accountable, ensuring that public funds are used judiciously and that government policies are aligned with the needs of the people. Our oversight activities have led to significant outcomes, including recovering misappropriated funds and rectifying administrative inefficiencies,” he said.
On his part, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, underscored the need for the legislature to prioritize legislative actions that will help to meet the needs of Nigerians.
He said that the lawmakers have a responsibility to understand the nation’s urgent needs and address them accordingly.
He said: “As the People’s House, we understand the importance of transparency and public engagement. This week is dedicated to engendering a more inclusive and democratic legislative process that truly reflects our constituents’ needs and voices.
“This inclusive approach, ensuring all voices are heard, is a model for effective governance. The hard work and ingenuity of the entire 10th House leadership is truly commendable. It is a privilege to collaborate with them in delivering the transformative potential of the 8-point legislative agenda.
“This 8-point agenda focuses on strengthening good governance by promoting transparency, accountability, and the rule of law; improving national security to ensure the safety of all Nigerians; modernizing and strengthening our legal framework; stimulating economic growth and job creation; investing in education, healthcare, and other essential services; generations enhancing public participation in the legislative process; promoting Nigeria’s interests on the global stage; and protecting our environment for future generations.
“An open legislature is not just about engagement, it is about data-driven decision-making. We, as your representatives, have a responsibility to understand the nation’s most immediate needs and address them accordingly. This requires a meticulous approach, utilizing data and prioritizing models that reflect the pulse of our nation.
“Planning without facts has historically led developing nations like ours down a path of retrogression. Openness and data-driven decision-making will ensure our legislative actions are tailored to the evolving needs of the people we serve.”
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed, through a second reading, a bill seeking to retain immunity for the Office of the President and remove immunity from the Vice President, the Governors and the Deputy Governors.
The bill was one of the 42 considered and passed through the second reading stage during plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Benjamin Kalu, in Abuja.
Sponsored by Hon. Solomon Bob (Rivers PDP), the bill is seeking the amendment of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution to guard against abuse of office and to ensure transparency in governance.
The long title of the proposed legislation read: “A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to qualify the immunity conferred on the President, remove the immunity conferred on the Vice President, the Governors and their deputies, in order to curb corruption, eradicate impunity and enhance accountability in public office and for related matters.”
Key amendments include changes to Section 308 of the Constitution, which currently grants immunity to the president, vice president, governors, and deputy governors while in office.
The proposed bill will amend subsection 3 to ensure that immunity only applies to the President and the vice president when acting as President under Section 145 of the Constitution.
Additionally, a new subsection 4 will be introduced to make the immunity clause inapplicable if the office holder is acting in an unofficial capacity, engaging in actions beyond the powers of the office, or involved in criminal conduct.
“The bill seeks to foster transparency and strengthen the fight against corruption by making public officials more accountable for their actions, both in and out of office.”
“Section 308 of the principal Act is amended by:(a) substituting a new subsection (3) as follows: “(3) This section applies to a person holding the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Vice President only when acting as President, in line with Section 145 of this Constitution.
Creating sub section (4) thereto as follows:”(4) The foregoing provisions of this section shall be inapplicable where the person to whom this section applies is acting in an unofficial capacity or where the conduct of the person is beyond the powers of his office or the conduct is criminal in nature.
“This Bill may be cited as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Act 2024.
The bill is currently awaiting further debate and consideration by the National Assembly.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has written to notify Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, about the petition by constituents seeking her recall from the national assembly.
INEC said it has also received the contact details of the petitioners.
“Pursuant to section 69 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, I write to notify you of the receipt of a petition from representatives of registered voters in your constituency seeking your recall from the senate.
“The notification is in line with the provisions of clause 2 (a) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024.
“This letter is also copied to the presiding officer of the senate and simultaneously published on the commission’s website. Thank you”, the letter read.
The letter was signed by Ruth Oriaran Anthony, secretary to the commission.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Wednesday, INEC said it has now received the updated contact details from representatives of petitioners seeking to recall the senator.
In the statement, Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education, said a letter notifying the senator of the petition has been delivered to her official address, copied to the senate presiding officer, and published on the commission’s website.
“The next step is to scrutinise the list of signatories submitted by the petitioners to ascertain that the petition is signed by more than one half (over 50%) of the registered voters in the constituency. This will be done in the coming days.
“The outcome, which will be made public, shall determine the next step to be taken by the Commission. We once again reassure Nigerians that the process will be open and transparent”, Mr Olumekun said.
Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan had recently accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexually harassing her.
The allegation came in the wake of seating arrangement related altercation between Senator. Akpabio and the Kogi Central senator at the red chamber
She was subsequently suspended from the senate for six months for “gross misconduct” over the incident.
The constituents behind the recall move also accused her of “gross misconduct, abuse of office, and deceitful behaviour”.
The senator has denied wrongdoing and called the recall effort a “coordinated suppression” of her voice.
The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the second reading of a bill to upgrade the Lagos State 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to full-fledged Local Government Areas (LGAs ).
The bill, was sponsored by James Faleke, Babajimi Benson, Enitan Badru, and 19 other lawmakers.
The bill is titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to Accommodate the Thirty-Seven (37) Development Area Councils of Lagos State as Full-Fledged Local Government Areas, Increasing the Total Number of Local Government Areas in the Federation to Eight Hundred and Eleven (811), and for Related Matters (HB. 1498),”
Once fully enacted, Nigeria’s total number of LGAs will rise from 774 to 811, with Lagos overtaking Kano and Katsina, which currently have 44 and 34 LGAs, respectively.
Proponents of the bill argue that granting full LGA status to the LCDAs would bring governance closer to the people. The 37 LCDAs were created by President Bola Tinubu in 2003 when he was governor of Lagos State.
However, it’s worth noting that the Lagos State House of Assembly has been working on a bill to replace the 37 LCDAs with newly designated administrative areas.