How Saraki is Redefining Legislative Governance
By Dare Atoye
The Senate President, BukolaSaraki, was elected for the second time as senator on the platform of a party that promised Nigerians change from what the nation did wrong in the past, and he has an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy as the number three ctizen. Although, this may not be the best of times for Saraki, as he continues to battle with entrenched political interests not favourable to his emergence as the primus inter pares in the senate.
So far, he has been able to weather the storm against political challenges and party interferences. With 83 Senators affirming their unalloyed support through a confidence vote, it appears he is in a firm control of the Senate. Also, the cumulative views of Nigerians have shown that Saraki has the wherewithal to successfully manage the affairs of the Senate.
He understands the enormity of the expectations of Nigerians as captured in his inaugural speech. Read him: “The change that our people voted for is a change from a life of poverty, misery and hopelessness to a life of prosperity, happiness and confidence in the future; a change from a pervasive culture of fear to a life of security and comfort; a change from impunity and elite arrogance to a life of accountability and respect for every citizen, regardless of tribe, gender, religion, region or political persuasion. This is the change that all of us in this National Assembly must strive to bring about, if we must justify the privilege of representation conferred on us by our people.
“Nigerians want to see a proactive National Assembly that will devote itself to rigorous thinking, rolling up sleeves to forge a new and prosperous Nigeria…. Nigerians expect the barest minimum out of our agenda; that the new senate and National Assembly must make laws that will enable us renew our infrastructure, reform the oil sector, reform our security systems, boost agriculture, create jobs and make doing business in Nigeria much more competitive. In the coming days we shall be converging to hammer out an aggregate agenda that will help us focus and deliver on these minimum expectations.”
There has been consistency in the speeches of Saraki about serving in the interest of Nigerians. Similarly in his address when the Senate resumed from a short recess on July 28, 2015, he said: “Nigerians did not give us our mandate to come and pursue leadership; their mandate was for us to pursue governance and bring solutions to their burning issues. It is time we reminded ourselves of the solemn promise to deliver to our people real change.
“Leadership is secondary to our primary responsibility of good governance. As Senate President you have given me responsibility to ensure that our primary responsibility is placed on the table not under the table. Nigerians did not put their lives on the line for politics but for the delivery of good governance.”
Similarly on September 29 in yet another speech, Saraki reminded his colleagues on the mandate given to them by Nigerians, to wit: “We promised Nigerians that our actions would positively impact on their lives. This I intend to keep. In that light I will urge you my distinguished colleagues that we make priority the passing of bills that would ultimately and substantially expand our people’s livelihood and opportunities.”
Despite the cold shoulders from the executive and the lack of readiness by President Buhari to meet with him at intra-party level or invite him for dialogue, as was the case between the heads of the executive and the legislature in the past, Saraki has so far showed some level of maturity. He is not confrontational and has severally sounded reconciliatory in his speeches. Read him: “We must think hard and work hard with the Executive to achieve greater clarity in policy direction and interventions. We shall therefore commence immediately, a review of the 2015 budget and begin now to lay down the fundamental principles that would determine the 2016 budget and the philosophy of our economy in times like this.”
The content of the Senate’s draft eight legislative agenda will, undoubtedly, redefine Nigeria’s legislative governance and bring a new dimension to legislative business. The effective implementation of this agenda will be a worthwhile legacy of the Saraki’s Senate Presidency. More especially is the e-parliament agenda, which, Saraki said, “will see us leapfrog into the ranks of efficient law-making entities able to solve 21st century problems. I believe that this will leapfrog our productivity and make lawmaking in this chamber much more efficient.”
As against a predicted confrontational approach or the thinking of a pay-back time by some analysts, Saraki’s approach to the minister-nominees’ screening proved many wrong. More than expected, he went a step further to prevail on some of his colleagues to allow the process to be smooth. The Senate President has demonstrated maturity, level-headedness and leadership.
Many Nigerians are not aware that as against previous tradition of attaching the names of minister-nominees against their respective states, President MuhammaduBuhari did not comply with this process. For instance, there was the controversy generated over the state of origin of Mrs.Amina Mohammed as a minister-nominee either from Gombe State or Kaduna State. The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu raised an observation on this obvious lacuna but the Senate refused to allow it to halt the screening. It was a needless distraction, but which the Senate President handled with maturity and a sense of equanimity.
However, a source in the National Assembly said that non-attachment of states of origin might be a deliberate ploy to set a trap for the Senate President which could have resorted in a confrontation and delay, thereby allowing the executive to press Section 147 (6) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which states that “An appointment to any of the offices aforesaid shall be deemed to have been made where no return has been received from the Senate within twenty-one working days of the receipt of nomination by the Senate. “
Saraki has also refused to betray his mien in public appearances or while presiding over the Senate, despite a case instituted against him by the executive at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. So far, he is enjoying the support of his colleagues, who have equally vowed to support him throughout the trial. With 83 senators behind him and possibly more now that his confidence is growing, the Senate Presidency is for Saraki to lose except the ongoing legal gymnastics remove him from office.
