The Nation Newspaper How has National Assembly fared in 25 years of democracy?
The legislature is regarded by many as the beacon of democracy. It is the only institution of governance that does not exist during the military as it is often suspended, while the military performs its role. It is also the closest level of government to the people. Twenty-five years after the return to civil rule, TONY AKOWE examines how the National Assembly has fared.
In 25 years, the House has produced nine speakers and eight deputy speakers. The speakers are Salisu Buhari whose tenure was short-lived by certificate scandal, Ghali Umar Na’abba , Aminu Bello Masari , Patricia Etteh , Dimeji Bankole , Aminu Waziri Tambuwal , Yakubu Dogara , Femi Gbajajabiamila and the current Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen .
“To be an informed trustee, the senators need to understand the view of their constituents before casting their votes. On this basis, the Senate adjourned to allow the lawmakers to consult with constituents about the constitutional amendment. With this intervention, some senators returned with enlightened views. We decided to televise the proceedings.
The Police Act and the Customs and Excise Management Act passed by the 9th National Assembly are part of the landmark laws passed by the National Assembly since 1999 to bring reforms to the two agencies. Interestingly, before the passage of the CEMA Act in 2023, the Customs Act had not been amended for over 60 years, thereby making reforms in the agency cumbersome. In addition, some agencies and institutions have come into existence through Acts of Parliament.
The disability bill, which aims to curb discrimination against persons with disabilities, was passed in 2016. The bill was signed into law by then-President Muhammadu Buhari on January 23, 2019. The Disability Act prohibits all forms of discrimination on the grounds of disability and imposes a fine of N1 million for corporate bodies and N100,000 for individuals, or a term of six months imprisonment for violation. It gave a moratorium of five years before coming into full operation.
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