The new Electoral Act amendment Bill which scaled second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives Tuesday has proposed an electoral expenditure ceiling of five billion naira for a presidential candidate of any political party.
For a governorship candidate, the Bill pegged the expenditure at one billion naira, N70 million for House of Representatives, N100 million for the Senate, N30 million for state House of Assembly hopeful and local government/Area council’s chairmanship candidate, and five million naira for councillorship aspirant.
Speaking on the Bill intended to repeal the Electoral Act No. 6, 2010 (as amended) and enact the Independent National Electoral Commission Act 2020; Chairman House Committee on Electoral Matters Aishatu Dukku explained that there were other far reaching amendment proposals in the Bill.
She disclosed that the draft Bill was a product of collaboration of her committee and its Senate’s counterpart, as well as inputs of the INEC and the Federal Ministry of Justice.
“Everybody is being carried along. We need the amendments to perfect our electoral processes, before the 2023 general elections”, she said, assuring Nigerians that with the time-saving approach adopted, the Bill would be ready at a good time for President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent.
During a debate on its general principle on the floor, some members however observed certain ambiguities in some of the clauses.
Such include the power of INEC to use card reader “and any other technological device”, which, in the opinion of members, may give room for mischief.
In his contribution, Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu also argued that issue of electoral expenditure should be reemphasised in order not to scare interested Nigerians away for offices they rightly qualified for.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Luke Onofiok said: “It is in line with the yearnings and expectations of Nigerians, as there are critical provisions for electoral credibility.”
He, however, questioned the aspect which states that “where there are over voting in a polling unit, INEC should cancel and reschedule the polls in such a unit within 21 days. To ask for another date is to encourage breaching the Act. It is should be total annulment or cancellation.”
The Bill has been committed to the Committee on Electoral Matters for further legislative action, after several contributions to the debate, and its subsequent passage for second reading.
PIB
Meanwhile, the House stuck to its promises as it passed the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) for second reading Tuesday.
Commenting on the Bill which had repeatedly failed since the 6th session of the apex legislature, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila noted that it was not passed by successive assemblies “because there were a lot of conflicting interests,” but that this time, the 9th Assembly was determined to pass the Bill, with national interest taking the front burner.
Opening the debate on general principles of the Bill, Majority Leader Alhassan Ado Doguwa said it was an instrument that would entrench transparency and effective management of the nation’s petroleum resources.
Another lawmaker, Rotimi Agunsoye, in his contribution, said it was time Nigeria put an end to doing things by trial and error, which would not work.
“Let’s have a legal backing so that when people come to invest, they know what will happen when things go wrong. If you do things right, we will move forward”, he said while expressing support for its passage.
In his submissions, Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Tahir Monguno argued that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as presently constituted, had become a huge drawback on the nation’s economy.
He said the Bill under consideration was to unbundle it into smaller units to bring it in tandem with international best practices.
The lawmaker said: “We have a lot untapped resources in the sector, and we need to tap them for the growth of our infrastructure.”
In her own contribution, Deputy Whip Nkiruka Onyejiocha recalled that the Bill started in the 6th Assembly, through 7th and 8th Assembly.
“Why can’t it sail through? It is now a responsibility on us to see it through. Those stalling the progress of this country need to know that enough is enough”, the lawmaker said.
After several other contributions in support of its passage, as well as unanimous affirmative voice votes, Speaker Gbajabialmila referred the Bill to the House’s Ad hoc Committee on the PIB, for further legislative action.
On slain vendor
Also briefing members on the killing of a newspaper vendor, Ifeanyi Okereke by one his security aide last Thursday, Gbajabiamila said: “On Thursday, 19th of November, Mr Ifeanyi Okereke, a young Nigerian, died here in Abuja. His death was the result of a gunshot by a now-former member of my security detail. Ifeanyi Okereke was a son and brother, and he was also the father of two children, including a son who was born seven days before his untimely death. I mourn the death of this young man. The House mourns his death.
“I have shared in his family’s grief. There has been too much pain; there has been too much suffering. I have made personal pledges to the family regarding funeral costs, support for Ifeanyi’s widow and the education of his children. I have initiated the process to formalise these commitments in a trust that gives the family the certainty that allows them to continue with their lives despite the unfortunate loss.”
He also encouraged his colleagues to ensure the participation of their constituents in constitution and electoral law amendment processes.
“I encourage all of you to reach out to your various constituencies and encourage your constituents to participate in both the Constitutional Review and Electoral Amendment processes by articulating and submitting the changes they wish to see. This too is part of the joint task of nation-building”, he noted.
