| The ‘New face’
of NASS
By CHIDI OBINECHE
Friday, November
27, 2009
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•Dimeji
Bankole
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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Growing concerns over the inability of both arms of the National
Assembly peaked on November 18, 2009, when the Senate reviewed
the existing tradition of having a joint sitting in the green
chambers of the House of Representatives.
In conformity with section 81(1) Yar’Adua had written
to the Senate President, David Mark and the Speaker Dimeji
Bankole seeking for a slot of 11.00am to address them at a
joint sitting for the occasion of presenting the 2010 budget
estimates.
That simple demand took the wind off the sails of both chambers,
and stood the nation on edge.
Senate spokesman Ayogu Eze had announced that “it is
the prerogative of the chairman of The National Assembly to
decide the venue of the joint session, and this year he has
decided that the joint session will take place in the red
chamber, and all the relevant authorities have been duly notified
(including) the leadership of the House of Representatives,
and the National Assembly leadership including the clerk of
the National Assembly and the management. Every arrangement
is being put in place to ensure that the president comes and
makes a hitch-free presentation of the 2010 appropriation
bill.”
He dismissed misgivings about accommodation for the 469 NASS
members and the president’s likely large entourage.
“The red chamber is enough to accommodate everybody.
We have enough seats in the chambers to take everybody and
then the issue of venue is not a big deal, because, it is
the prerogative of the chairman of the National Assembly to
decide the venue.
“He can even decide that we go to the banquet hall of
the House of Representatives to hold the session and his decision
that the thing should hold here this year does not mean that
next year it cannot go to any other venue, provided that it
is within the National Assembly complex.”
That signaled the tune for the fisticuff that was to follow
as the House promptly replied him, declining to sit together
in the red chambers.
It thawed the cold war that has been brewing in the last two
years.
The grudge Armada
Gnawing differences between both chambers stemmed basically
from the system of emergence of the leaders of both chambers.
While David Mark was installed by a haul of Southern senators
vote, Dimeji Bankole was made by the North. Mark, an acolyte
of ex-president Obasanjo had defiantly stood by the former
Speaker Patricia Etteh, as she battled moves to remove her
from office. Etteh is also an unrepentant associate of Obasanjo.
Mark had reasoned that the assault on Etteh was from anti
–Obasanjo elements and that it may extend to him if
it was not curtailed.
When the resistance caved in and Etteh went with it, a counterpoise
to replace her with another Obasanjo associate failed, and
Bankole sailed into power. The broken fence was not mended
and as the days went by, it widened.
Mark’s controversial election into the senate in 2007,
which was challenged at the tribunal is also at the butt of
the lingering row. Some leaders of the party, especially Chief
Tony Anenih, were said to have fought relentlessly to get
Mark out at the Tribunal, but failed. As a tested military
marksman, the obvious interests and sympathies were not lost
on him. A nebulous division, thus ensued between both men.
Bankole’s emergence as Speaker which had the backing
of President Yar’Adua, has also gone through some sort
of stress; in recent times.
Apart from the January 17, 2009 retreat of the Joint Committee
on the review of the 1999 constitution (JCCR) which ran into
stormy waters when the Representatives staged a walkout following
the non-accession of their request for a co-chairmanship for
the deputy Speaker.
The only other time that, the schism came to the fore was
in April this year, when the finish president Tarja Halonen
came calling. A joint sitting of both arms was aborted unlike
what obtained in the past, especially last year when the Indian
president came.
These grudges have for shadowed a new pattern and strength
for the National Assembly.
Powers and leverages
Going by the 1999 constitution, the senate towers over and
above the House of Representatives. Section 142 (2), 154 (1)
(2) among others exclusively gives the senate powers to screen
and confirm ministerial and Ambassadorial nominees.
In the case of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)
the senate is also empowered to screen and confirm the chairman
and members, and “may decide to consult the House”
though it is not known if the House have been consulted since
the inception of the commission over nine years ago.
Also section 53 (1) gives the senate the powers to preside
over joint sittings, while section 65 (1) which set the minimum
age requirement for the seat of a Senator rests it at 35 yrs
while a member of the House has 30yrs, the same age requirement
for a local government chairman.
A serving senator from the South-East geo-political zone who
is incensed by what he called “the affront from our
younger brothers” asked rhetorically to Daily Sun;”
they aspire and graduate to become senators but have you seen
a senator going down to run for a seat in the House? Even
ex-governors and presidents come to the senate. How many have
you seen in the House? This madness does not require our attention
please.”
Interms of remuneration, the Revenue mobilization Allocation
and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) pegs a senator’s salary
at N2,026,400, while his counterpart in the House earns N1,985,21250.
The Senate President earns N2,484,24250, while the Speaker
takes home N2,477,110.00. These, therefore puts a strain on
the parity argument.
Casualties
Although, many argue that the comparative low level performance
of both chambers is traceable to the rift, others put it squarely
on the rudderless nature of the composition of the bodies.
Nearly three years into the life of the present National Assembly,
no private member bill has been passed into law. And this
is without the usual trademark rancour, between them and the
executive in previous dispensations.
At the moment, the House have passed 28 bills, which would
require the concurrence of the senate to get teeth. Conversely
the senate have 12 bills awaiting the concurrence of the House.
No meaningful attempt is being made on both sides to get the
bills through, due to the cold war and non-challance of the
members.
No budget since this democratic dispensation has been implemented
fully by the executive, even in the face of glaring constitutional
provisions to call the president to order. So, while the fight
lasts, the people and the nation suffer as no meaningful development
is taking place.
Also, at the receiving end is the much touted constitution
review which every senate and House take turns to trifle with.
Both chambers are pursuing the review separately now as a
fallout of the schism, and there is nothing to suggest that
they will ever come round together to get it passed. There
are fears that the current exercise will end up in the dust
bin inspite of rehashed assurances. The nation suffers under
this muscle flexing.
Electoral reforms which has been the sing-song in the last
two, and half years is also destined to fail, going by the
machinations and ill-wind that have attended to it so far.
So, in the main, the clouds are gathering and cheeks by Daily
Sun indicates the discomfort of the presidency over the continuing
rift.
Some hawks in the presidency, it was learnt are making desperate
efforts to prevail on Yar’Adua to act with dispatch
and urgently institute measures that would see to a change
in the NASS leadership and with it, a new orientation, without
the lingering drawbacks.
Infact, a particular source said the new wave of misunderstanding
on budget presentation was carefully conceived, planned and
orchestrated by the presidency, in order to create a window
for the ailing president to travel out for his pressing health
needs.
The days ahead, before the elections will determine the shape
and thrust of the National Assembly. But as both arms have
dug in on their convictions, Nigerians may for now contend
with the new face.”
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