As the legislative calendar of the National Assembly in June, 2023, the harmonious relationship experienced between the legislative and other organs of government since 2019 has not been so seamless since the beginning of the fourth Republic in 1999.
The 9th National Assembly under the able and pragmatic leadership of Senator Ahmed Lawan as the Senate President and Rt. Honorable Femi Gbajabiamila as the speaker, House of Representatives, have provided sound leadership in ensuring a water- tight relationship between the National Assembly, the Executive as well as the judiciary.
Democratic governance system operates on a tripartite dimension with the three organs of government in place. This system defines the beauty of democracy and at the same time, differentiates it from undemocratic system of government. while the Executive enforces the law, the legislature makes the law of the land and the Judiciary interprets the law and possibly punishes offenders. whereas under military rule, both the Executive and the Judiciary operate in absence of the legislature, the legislature is the organ of government whose presence defines democratic role. it is to this end that it is known as the oxygen of democracy. it is the breath of democracy and the life saving machine of a democratic nation.
However, despite the golden role and significant contribution of the Legislature to the survival of our democracy, a hostile legislative team cannot birth a peaceful administration regardless of the number of intelligent and competent hands that make up such team. A proper coordination of government's activities under a democratic umbrella is largely premised on the peaceful cohesion between the various organs of government as earlier mentioned.
The principle of separation of powers lucidly explains the distinct roles of each of the organs of government as they are not meant to be parasitic in nature. However, the independence of each of the organs also calls for cooperation among them, howbelt in principle. While the relationship between the judiciary and other organs are always maintained due to the sacredness of its function, the one that poses dangers mostly to the governance system is any feud between the legislature and the Executive organs of government.
For over 22 years of the uninterrupted journey of our beautiful democracy, Nigeria experienced the most hostile and frugal relationship between the Executive and the Legislature under the leadership of the 8th National Assembly. The leadership of the 8th Assembly allegedly downplayed their party's internal arrangements to emerge which led to an unending fracas all through the lifespan of that leadership. Several bills that passed through third reading at the chambers remained unsigned as the President refused assent; also, numerous requests from the President that required the input of the Senate were broadly rejected. The relationship between the two organs of government experienced between 2015 to 2019 could be described as a fight between two separate kingdoms that were once buddies. The Saraki- led Senate presidency was nothing less than hostile to our burgeoning democracy. The fight was obvious. The disharmony was palpable. Under the 8th Assembly, members at both the lower and upper chambers operated based on the demand of their political parties. There was deep division and disagreement in the legislative chambers.
But the emergence of Senator Ahmed Lawan brought fresh air to the table. His emergence as the Senate President redefined the cord of unity between the legislative arm and the Executive, thereby culminating in harmonious coordination of the important activities of the administration.
One of the areas that the 9th Assembly would be remembered for, aside the unity they maintained with other organs of government, is in the implementation of lawmakers' constituency projects. Unlike before, when lawmakers were reckless with the management of their constituency funds, members of the 9th Assembly have proven to have used their constituency funds judiciously for the benefit of their constituents, based on field assessment undertaken by this writer.
In Kogi State alone, Alhaji lsah Jibrin (aka Echocho) the senator representing Kogi East, has been nicknamed Mr infrastructure due to the plethora of projects he undertook within the four years of his legislative sojourn at the upper chamber. The 9 local governments areas in Kogi state under his Senatorial zone have witnessed profound transformation with multiple projects to his credit. Similar testimony is witness in Kogi West where Senator Smart Adeyemi is riding high, building infrastructure and putting laughter on the lips of his people. The senator representing Kogi Central, Senator Yakubu Oseni is not left out in his quest to bring succour to his people. He has to his credit a lot of projects and empowerment programmes.
Recently, while engaging the media during the Kadlnvest7.0, Governor Nasir El- Rufai of Kaduna state said that he had a good relationship with all the federal lawmakers from his state, when asked about his relationship with them. He added that the constituency projects undertaken by the lawmakers of Kaduna extraction were first planned with the state government. it is akin to bringing the federal Government to some critical sub sectors of the state that require development. lt is only the 9th Assembly that has this level of testimony and harmonious relationship with their state governments.
Addressing a group of Journalists during his 62nd birthday, the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmed lawan said the upper chamber, and by extension, the National Assembly remains committed to serving the interest of Nigerians in the discharge of its constitutional duties. He maintained that the National Assembly under his leadership would only focus on whatever will bring development to the country, adding that no amount of name- calling by critics would deter the upper chamber from considering and passing pro- people legislations.
He said, " We believe that there is a price to pay for anything, but we are patriotic. Let us be called any name, what we want to do and achieve is for our country to be better. Tomorrow, some of these people that are calling us all types of names will be writing very good commentaries above what we have been able to achieve in this Ninth National Assembly."
Senator Kamala, while gracing the occasion of the constituency empowerment programme sponsored by Senator Bello Mandiya, representing Funtua Senatorial District of Kastina State, said the essence of constituency projects was to bring development to the common man despite the fact that some people have their own meaning to it, adding that " constituency project was so badly misconstrued by many."
Furthermore, he said: " this ( constituency project) is what we call the empowerment of the most ordinary Nigerians that otherwise wouldn't have been remembered when you're talking about the national budget. So, for those who would today receive the motorcycle, the water pumps for irrigation and other items here, I want to congratulate you and assure you that this is just the beginning."
As proof of the peaceful relationship the National Assembly enjoys with the Executive, Senator Lawan promised to work together with president Muhammadu Buhari to curtail insecurity in the land.
" I want to assure you that we are going to continue to work with President Muhammadu Buhari till we are able to find lasting solutions to this problem of insecurity in our country. We will also ensure that the government provides infrastructure across the country that make life meaningful for Nigerians," Lawan said.
Another lawmaker from Kaduna state who was determined to empower his constituents and member representing Lere constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ahmed Munir provided financial assistance and other materials to about 5000 women and youths in the small and medium scale sectors of the economy. The gesture, he said, was a stimulus package to boost the nation's economy, especially at the local level.
Another lawmaker from Ondo state, Hon. Ade Adeogun, representing the good people of Akoko South East/ Southwest constituency in the House of Representatives, funded the construction of township roads in Oba Akoko, the construction of Agba Oka road as well as the facilitation of employment opportunities for constituents in various public and private sector bodies. He also sponsored the training of and gave grants as start- up capital to over 100 persons in his constituency.
In Niger State, by way of assisting his constituents a member of the House of Representatives representing Suleja/Tara and Gurara constituency, Abubakar Lado Suleja, shared N50 million cash among his political associates and friends as Ramadan gifts.
There are a plethora of projects that members of the 9th Assembly have undertaken using constituency funds. Detail of their impact and the huge contributions to the development of Nigeria and also to our party APC, will be shown during the constituency projects Exhibit event that will soon be unveiled.