In furtherance to the broad legislative agenda set in 2019 at the beginning of its four year mandate, the 9th Senate came up with specific ones for 2021 last week. TAIYE ODEWALE examines the agenda and hurdles ahead.
It would be recalled that the 9th Senate along with the 9th House of Representatives under the leadership of Senator Ahmad Lawan and Hon Femi Gbajabiamila respectively, separately set legislative agenda to guide the two chambers on what and what legislations to be focused on within the four years of mandate given to them by Nigerians .
The agenda as generally defined by leadership of both chambers are to guide them into making quality and responsive legislations that will improve the wellbeing and welfare of Nigerians by making the executive to do the needful, in terms of delivery of dividends of democracy to Nigerians .
In a nutshell, good governance, as separately declared by Lawan and Gbajabiamila in September 2019, when their agenda were adopted in the Senate and the House of Representatives ; was the main purpose for such legislative targets cum guidelines.
Narrowing down Implementation of some of the agenda in 2021, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan noted in his new year message to Nigerians that legislations such as the ones on Proposed Petroleum Industry Bill ( PIB), 2010 Electoral Act (Amendment ) Bill, Amendment Bill on some provisions of the 1999 Constitution etc, will be focused on in the year and passed .
The message personally signed by Lawan reads in part: “Some critical legislations that we could not enact in 2020 as a result of the unusual development which I have mentioned are now on the priority list of the Legislative Agenda of the National Assembly for 2021.
“Topmost on the priority list are the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which we need, to boost activities in our oil and gas sector.
“The PIB has defied passage for about two decades but we are determined this time around to break that jinx and pass the Bill by the end of the first quarter of the new year.
“It is our utmost desire to make the passage of the PIB one of the legacies of the ninth National Assembly.
“Equally important is the passage of the Electoral Reform Amendment Bill.
This is necessary in order to enhance the democratic process of free, fair, transparent and credible elections in our dear country.
“We are determined to pass the Electoral Reforms Bill before the second quarter of 2021.
“Also on our priority list in 2021 is the amendment to the 1999 Constitution, which is the grundnorm of our being together as a nation.
“We have it on our agenda to pull through the process of constitutional amendment in 2021. The process which started in 2020 requires extensive consultations and the buy in of everybody”.
He added that aside the laid down agenda, that both Chambers of the National Assembly will collaborate with the executive as done in 2020 to fight the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic as well as insecurity in the land through enabling legislations .
“We will gives accelerated consideration to any measures proposed towards the containment of the COVID-19.
“In this regard, the National Assembly is waiting for the Executive to propose supplementary appropriation for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccine. In the meantime, we should continue to adhere strictly to the non-pharmaceutical protocols as prescribed by relevant health authorities.
“The issue of security in the country has always been top on our agenda and it will continue to be of utmost priority in 2021.
“We hope to sustain our collaboration with the Executive for a lasting solution that will make our country a safer place to live in.
Our hope to do all these and accomplish much more in the new year lies in the unity of purpose of the ninth National Assembly.
“The Assembly has been approaching issues in a bipartisan and patriotic manner right from the onset of the current dispensation.
“This is further reinforced by the sustained harmony and tremendous understanding between the legislature and the executive which we earnestly believe will continue in the new year and beyond. By now, the benefits of harmonious relations between these two arms of government should be clear to all.
“We promise in the new year to continue to put in our best for good governance and for the betterment of the lives of our people”, he added.
But as assuring as the Lawan’s promises are ,there are some hurdles to be crossed during considerations of some of the proposed legislations that may push their final passage beyond 2021.
One of such proposed legislations is the one on constitution review which is still at the level of memoranda submissions by concerned Nigerians.
The processes and stages such exercise must passed, are somewhat cumbersome for it to be concluded this year.
Analytically, from the stage of memoranda submissions , it is required to get to the stage of proposals presentations by various groups that are close to 200 based on memoranda submitted so far.
From that stage, the process will move to zonal collation of views from Nigerians before presentation of final recommendations to both Chambers of the National Assembly by the respective committees for consideration and passage at the National level after which, resolutions adopted or amendments made; will be sent to the House of Assembly of the 36 states for concurrence.
As constitutionally provided for, 24 of the 36 State Houses of Assembly must concurred to any of the amendments made by the National Assembly before it could be considered as a successful amendment.
The hurdle of presidential assent to the bill after passing through the rigorous process is also there to cross.
Nevertheless, it is good to set targets as done by the President of the Senate on the enumerated legislations but whether the targets set on all the legislations will be met this year or not, remains in the womb of time .
