Senate's intended control over CCT/CCB, wings that can't fly. By Ope Babs
In advanced democracies, legislators or lawmakers have a primary role to play in governance which is making laws that benefits the well-being of the entire citizens, conduct oversight functions on government's spendings on projects and ratify budgets. This role they primarily carry out without prejudice to the yearnings of the masses or ostentatious egocentric mentality which seek detrimental effects to the socioeconomic development of the nation. In fact, it is always included in their oath of office that they would shun all forms of selfish ambitions that could jeopardise the peace, integrity and justice to the nation at large while carrying out their duties.
In Nigeria, the reverse is always the case. We have self-serving individuals with monstrous insensitivity to the plight of the masses rather than their selfish ends. The oath they take to their offices read thus: "I, ..... do solemnly swear/affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that as a Member of the Senate/House of Representatives/ ..... House of Assembly, I will perform my functions honestly to the best of my ability, faithfully and in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the law, and the rules of the Senate/House of Representatives/ ...... House of Assembly and always in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that I will strive to preserve the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and that I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and that I will abide by the Code of Conduct contained in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
So help me God."
In all the aforesaid, integrity is missing and acts that could further promote the solidarity and prosperity of the country is virtually non-existent. We have collection of baggages turning themselves to liabilities on the Nigerian state. Only self serving bills are allowed to smooth sail while others that could promote the prosperity of the nation are being kept in perpetual state of neglect. They started their orchestrated anti-people moves with Anti-social media bill sponsored by one Senator Ibn Na'allah which of course did not see the light of the day due to public outcry. As if that was not enough, another bill was proposed to provide immunity for the Senate President and his Deputy, House of Representatives Speaker and deputy which was also suspended due to public outcry. The move to amend the CCB/CCT act surfaced sometime in April but which was immediately dropped due to the timing of such proposed amendment as the Senate President was and still going through a trial at Code of conduct tribunal over false declaration of assets. They put forward an argument then that even if the act regulating the CCB/CCT was amended that it would not have effect on the trial of Senator Bukola Saraki. The reason became obvious that since the said amendment is futuristic in nature, it could be that many of the lawmakers might be found wanting if their asset declaration files are opened and the only way they could save their heads is to amend the CCB/CCT act in their own favour. After a lot of social media campaign, occupy NASS protests, society groups condemnation, the said amendment was relaxed until the house of representatives secretly passed the amendment through the second reading in May 2016. However, they are grossly oblivious of the fact that such amendment would require the president's assent even though they can veto the assent should the President refuses to append his signature. But in their ignorance they are yet to realise according to law, such amendment passage by two third majority of the 36 states house of assembly to become law.
However, the masses factor is also there. I foresee a situation where the masses would rise up to say enough is enough to the parasites who have rather gone to the national assembly to represent themselves rather than the cause of their constituencies through unwavering allegiance to the Nigerian state. Up until today nobody knows the budget of the national assembly as it has always become shady and grossly lacking in openness and accountability. These are people whose gross display of legislative ineptitude and lack of vision embarrasses the intelligence of an average Nigerian. Many Nigerians begin to wonder how the bunch of visionless individuals manage to serve as their representatives. But what I see everyday is that the lawmakers are beginning to behave in ways that could spur the anger and frustrating of Nigerians to mobilise against their being scrapped or restructured.
The citizens also have their fair share of the blame. Things have got to this level because we haven't been questioning their actions. We don't really make them accountable to us. Even though they build barricades around themselves the moment they are voted to power and tries to create wide gap between them and the electorates; but what happens to using the social media as checking tool to make them awake to their responsibilities? Rather we choose to preach hate, display allegiance to party affiliations and even sing the praises of those who are meant to represent your interest as employees without any form of visible returns. It is time to begin to call them to question. I rang the Senator representing my senatorial district and asked him why he signed the vote of confidence sheet for Bukola Saraki the other early this year but he vehemently denied it even though his name was there. I told him that was not what he was sent to Abuja to do and he simply said "God will help us". I replied God helps who seek His direction in making decisions and that such act should not be heard of someone from my senatorial district supporting someone allegedly accused of corruption. He maintained his statement "God will help us". Since then he withdrew from following the Senate President to the CCT hearings. That's the power we have to call them to question not rankadedising (permit my use of that word; it culturally means extolling or praising) them. If there is anything we can do to salvage this country from these selfish representatives, it is to make sure that the CCB/ CCT act amendment is not allowed to sail through by mobilising against it. The clear consequence of allowing such amendment is that it allows corruption to endure by incapacitating and undermining the efforts of those who are meant to checkmate it. It is time to rise up and oppose this legislative rascality.
May God help Nigeria overcome
Ope Babs is a prolific writer, a social commentator and public analyst.
In Nigeria, the reverse is always the case. We have self-serving individuals with monstrous insensitivity to the plight of the masses rather than their selfish ends. The oath they take to their offices read thus: "I, ..... do solemnly swear/affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that as a Member of the Senate/House of Representatives/ ..... House of Assembly, I will perform my functions honestly to the best of my ability, faithfully and in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the law, and the rules of the Senate/House of Representatives/ ...... House of Assembly and always in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that I will strive to preserve the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and that I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and that I will abide by the Code of Conduct contained in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
So help me God."
In all the aforesaid, integrity is missing and acts that could further promote the solidarity and prosperity of the country is virtually non-existent. We have collection of baggages turning themselves to liabilities on the Nigerian state. Only self serving bills are allowed to smooth sail while others that could promote the prosperity of the nation are being kept in perpetual state of neglect. They started their orchestrated anti-people moves with Anti-social media bill sponsored by one Senator Ibn Na'allah which of course did not see the light of the day due to public outcry. As if that was not enough, another bill was proposed to provide immunity for the Senate President and his Deputy, House of Representatives Speaker and deputy which was also suspended due to public outcry. The move to amend the CCB/CCT act surfaced sometime in April but which was immediately dropped due to the timing of such proposed amendment as the Senate President was and still going through a trial at Code of conduct tribunal over false declaration of assets. They put forward an argument then that even if the act regulating the CCB/CCT was amended that it would not have effect on the trial of Senator Bukola Saraki. The reason became obvious that since the said amendment is futuristic in nature, it could be that many of the lawmakers might be found wanting if their asset declaration files are opened and the only way they could save their heads is to amend the CCB/CCT act in their own favour. After a lot of social media campaign, occupy NASS protests, society groups condemnation, the said amendment was relaxed until the house of representatives secretly passed the amendment through the second reading in May 2016. However, they are grossly oblivious of the fact that such amendment would require the president's assent even though they can veto the assent should the President refuses to append his signature. But in their ignorance they are yet to realise according to law, such amendment passage by two third majority of the 36 states house of assembly to become law.
However, the masses factor is also there. I foresee a situation where the masses would rise up to say enough is enough to the parasites who have rather gone to the national assembly to represent themselves rather than the cause of their constituencies through unwavering allegiance to the Nigerian state. Up until today nobody knows the budget of the national assembly as it has always become shady and grossly lacking in openness and accountability. These are people whose gross display of legislative ineptitude and lack of vision embarrasses the intelligence of an average Nigerian. Many Nigerians begin to wonder how the bunch of visionless individuals manage to serve as their representatives. But what I see everyday is that the lawmakers are beginning to behave in ways that could spur the anger and frustrating of Nigerians to mobilise against their being scrapped or restructured.
The citizens also have their fair share of the blame. Things have got to this level because we haven't been questioning their actions. We don't really make them accountable to us. Even though they build barricades around themselves the moment they are voted to power and tries to create wide gap between them and the electorates; but what happens to using the social media as checking tool to make them awake to their responsibilities? Rather we choose to preach hate, display allegiance to party affiliations and even sing the praises of those who are meant to represent your interest as employees without any form of visible returns. It is time to begin to call them to question. I rang the Senator representing my senatorial district and asked him why he signed the vote of confidence sheet for Bukola Saraki the other early this year but he vehemently denied it even though his name was there. I told him that was not what he was sent to Abuja to do and he simply said "God will help us". I replied God helps who seek His direction in making decisions and that such act should not be heard of someone from my senatorial district supporting someone allegedly accused of corruption. He maintained his statement "God will help us". Since then he withdrew from following the Senate President to the CCT hearings. That's the power we have to call them to question not rankadedising (permit my use of that word; it culturally means extolling or praising) them. If there is anything we can do to salvage this country from these selfish representatives, it is to make sure that the CCB/ CCT act amendment is not allowed to sail through by mobilising against it. The clear consequence of allowing such amendment is that it allows corruption to endure by incapacitating and undermining the efforts of those who are meant to checkmate it. It is time to rise up and oppose this legislative rascality.
May God help Nigeria overcome
Ope Babs is a prolific writer, a social commentator and public analyst.
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