10th National Assembly Toothless, Fast Losing Respect of MDAs – Shehu Sani
By Juliet Vincent
Pro-democracy activist, Senator, Uba Sani says the toothless nature of the Senator Goodwill Akpabio-led National Assembly could impede good governance in the country.
He stated this in a keynote speech to mark the National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum (NASSLAF) week held in Abuja on Monday with the theme: “Sustainable Democracy and Nation Building”
According to him, the 10th National Assembly is nowhere near the Senator Bukola Saraki-led 8th Assembly that checkmated the excesses of the Executive Arm.
Sani also claimed that the 10th National Assembly no longer command the respect of heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) due to their subservient nature.
He said: “In our time from the beginning to the end , it was virtually impossible for us to invite the heads of ministries , departments and agencies (MDAs) for them to say they would not come. You cannot try that in our time.
“And by the time we invite you, your body would start shaking because we were not here to sing anybody’s song,” he said.
“This institution need that respect. If you turn yourselves into stooges, subservients and a bunch of compliant representatives , you would lose your respect. Our own era was an era in which we stood in defence of the independence of the legislature but it came at a cost because many things that ought to have been achieved were not achieved.
“Bills that were supposed to be passed were not passed because of the frosty relationship. So if you fight too much , you would lose too much. And the danger is if you cooperates too much and become rubber stamp , what you are doing is you are emboldening a tyrant.
“And when you become so complaint , so subservient as a legislator, you lose respect in all areas when you go for oversight function. Sometimes you see heads of MDAs exchange words with Senators and members of the House of Representatives. You know that you cannot do that in our time. You will go out because we had a Senate President who can tell you no!
“Any person coming to us for nomination can only be approved if you deserve it. That is how the institution is supposed to be. This is not a place of always approving , stamping, sealing everything that comes from the Executive. If you do that because you love this President , a time would there would be a President you don’t love and whatever that come to you you take it.
“Whatever is brought before the national Assembly deserves serious attention because it is not about the senators, members of the House of Representatives, it is about Nigerians. That is why there are people who come here spend about 20 years if you see them on the road you will not know them.
“And there are people who would be here for 4 years and you know they were here. You are not sent here to become a “rankadede” person to the Executive. You are here to do the needful. You would be remembered for what you stand for in the end,” he noted.
He charged the National Assembly not to sacrifice their duties in pursuit of self aggrandizement.
He described Legislative Aides as the unseen force that play pivotal roles to their principals charged with the responsibility of making laws for the good governance of the country.
