By Ehichioya Ezomon
The coming of the 9th National Assembly (NASS) – from the ashes of the 8th NASS that’s more an opposition than a co-partner of the government of the day – evoked the kind of scepticism that attended the time Jesus was recruiting.
Because “Jesus is from a back-water town like Nazareth,” with a population of about 500, Nathanael, who’s with Philip, was doubtful if anything good, like a miracle-performing Jesus, could be ascribed to Nazareth.
The Bible, in John 1:46, records the conversation between Nathanael and Philip, thus: “And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.”
As bibleref.com explained, “Nathanael’s question is more than a little sarcastic. He assumes that Nazareth couldn’t produce much of worth, let alone the Promised One. Philip’s response is not to argue, but simply to invite. He knows already that talking about Jesus is nothing like meeting Him in person.”
Though not in the same context, most Nigerians had greeted the inauguration of the current NASS with “nothing good” would come from the chambers. They had past experiences as a guide!
Since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999, it’s been the national lawmakers’ endless tales of “let’s serve ourselves instead of the people that elected us into office.”
They advanced this self-interest with unexplained humongous allowances for each legislator; endless renovations of the NASS; purchase of exotic vehicles for their comfort; and passing of bills and resolutions that favoured their positions and pockets.
And what did the lawmakers on both sides of the aisle – the ruling party and the opposition – spare for the people, while they swam in affluence? Untold hardship in all ramifications: unemployment, high cost of living and general insecurity in the land!
So, it would have been a great surprise to Nigerians if members of the 9th NASS – many of whom were in previous sessions – were to toe a different path from their predecessors since 1999.
Let’s take the lawmakers’ craze for new, exotic vehicles in the midst of foreign cash crunch, and availability of Made-in-Nigeria vehicles to serve as replacements.
In late December 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari, in his first televised Media chat, criticised the plans by members of the 8th NASS to buy 400 new vehicles at over N4.7 billion.
Prior, Buhari had rejected moves for him to deploy N400 million for new vehicles for his fleet because, in his words, “the vehicles I am using are good enough for the next 10 years.”
“If I can turn down N400 million for the presidency – that I do not need any new car because of the economy – I can’t see the National Assembly spending more than N4.7 billion to buy cars, on top of transport allowance they collect,” the President said.
Buhari promised to “look conscientiously” at the budget for transport allowance for the lawmakers that had “gone up to N100 billion,” and revisit the car issue, “and see how we can live within our means.”
Well, Buhari wasn’t able to stop the 8th NASS, led by Senate President Bukola Saraki and House Speaker Yakubu Dogara – who emerged as Presiding Officers in spite of the opposition by the presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
But if the 8th NASS acted as an unnecessary counterweight to the policies of the Buhari administration, should the 9th NASS carbon-copy, and even strive to surpass the 8th NASS’ nuances?
Recall that Senate President Ahmad Lawan and House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila were the lawmakers the presidency and APC rooted for in June 2015, for the positions they now occupy.
Thus, why would the Gbajabiamila-headed House want to buy 400 exotic vehicles – 2020 models – some costing over N34,000,000 a piece? And to think that the lawmakers rejected the products of Innoson Motors manufactured in Nnewi, Anambra State!
It boils down to self-interest that binds political officeholders. In four years, those vehicles would revert to them at give-away prices. Considering that some lawmakers have been in the NASS since 2003, they would have collected six cars each by 2023!
Nigerian legislators – via bills or resolutions – have never really worked for the people they purport to represent. If otherwise, why is the 9th NASS pursuing immunity for its Presiding Officers?
This pursuit flows from the “Legislative Immunity” that the 8th NASS enacted, to give lawmakers unfettered freedom to say anything – no matter how damaging to individuals, groups or institutions – on the floor of the two chambers.
The 8th NASS also mooted or commenced the amendment of the amended 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, to grant immunity to the Presiding Officers – Senate President, Senate Deputy President, the House Speaker and Deputy House Speaker.
Section 308(1)(a-c) and (2) of the constitution grants immunity to “a person holding the office of President or Vice-President, Governor or Deputy-Governor.”
The essentials of Section 308 are that during the period of holding such office, (a) no civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against the person; (b) the person shall not be arrested or imprisoned and (c) no process shall be applied for or issued by any court requiring or compelling the appearance of a person to whom the section applies.
Perhaps, sensing obstacles in the passage of the bill by State Houses of Assembly, the NASS has extended the “immunity” to the Principal Officers – Speakers and Deputy Speakers – of the 36 States of the Federation.
If the Bill passed, Nigeria will now have 150 public officeholders that enjoy immunity from arrest, forced appearance and prosecution in court – either for civil or criminal proceedings – while in office.
The worry is, if the trend isn’t checked, the NASS, in the pursuit of the principle of Separation of Power, and “Co-equal” of the three arms of government, will extend the privilege to the Judiciary.
This will benefit the Chief Justice of Nigeria, President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judges of the State High Courts and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), President of the Customary Court of Appeal, and Grand Khadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal.
And what stops the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the 744 Local Government Areas and Area Councils from agitating to be granted the constitutional immunity?
It’s a vicious circle that would further the alleged impunity in the executive branch of government, which has necessitated the calls for abolishing of immunity in the constitution.
Instead of tackling this request – and faced with a yawning gap in legislation to better the conditions of Nigerians – the 9th NASS members have engaged in the preservation of class interests. And nothing good has yet to come from the chambers!
- Mr. Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.