'Nigeria's Parliament Most Independent in Africa'
By Tokunbo Adedoja
In spite of the inadequacies of the present democratic dispensation, especially with regards to the inter-relationship among the three arms of government, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari has said Nigeria's parliament is the most independent in Africa.
Speaking in Calabar, Cross Rivers state, during a joint session between the House and the state's House of Assembly as part of the lower chamber's nationwide tour to feel the pulse of the people, Masari said the level of independence enjoyed by the nation's legislative arm cannot be contemplated in some other African countries, where their parliament are not only toothless but spineless.
"Our parliament is more independent than all the African parliaments. In some countries that we visited, their parliaments do not even have teeth, talkless of biting, but here in Nigeria, our parliament does not only have teeth but can also bite", he said.
Masari, however, said that does not suggest that the nation's legislature should not make efforts to further strengthen its independence by attaining financial autonomy like the Judiciary, adding that it is only when this is achieved that the legislature can perform its constitutionally stipulated functions without any fear of intimidation by other arms.
Masari, who was accompanied on the tour by his deputy, Hon. Austin Oparah, Leader of the House, Hon. Abdullahi Ningi, Chairman House Committee on Information and Publicity, Hon. Abike Dabiri and members of the House from Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, noted that the legislative arm is the youngest of the three arms of government and urged Nigerians to understand that it would take a little more time for it to fully stand on its foot.
He said the present leadership of the House, in recognition of this fact and in a bid to speed up the process of attaining this height, has ensured the existence of an enabling environment that would enhance capacity building.
He said to fully appreciate the efforts of the legislative arm, Nigerians should desist from comparing the nation's democracy with that of the United States of America (USA), which is over 200 years old, but with that of other African countries, which has similar socio-political features with Nigeria.
According to him, the Nigerian executive arm and the judiciary are as old as the nation's independence, while the legislature is less than five and a half years old.
Also at its joint session with the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in Uyo, Masari said it is only good governance that could guarantee the survival of the nation's democracy.
Masari, who was responding to a suggestion by a member of the State Assembly that a clause outlawing coups and prescribing sanctions for those who participate in any illegal government even several years after their exit from power, said no popular government can be overthrown as the people would resist such attempt.
While maintaining that the only antidote to coup is good governance, Masari said the House has been doing everything within its power to ensure that only legislations that would ensure good governance are passed.
He added that that was one of the reasons the House decided to go round the country to hold interactive sessions with the people in order to feel their pulse as well as to let them know what the parliament is doing to ensure that they enjoy the dividends of democracy.
At the interractive sessions held in Uyo and Calabar, where people of various backgrounds expressed their views on various issues, which include the state of the nation and the problems of their communities, Masari said the exercise tagged 'We Serve You' would not only make the people understand the workings of the parliament but also make the House to fully appreciate the problems of the various communities in the two states.
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