The 8th Nigerian National Assembly came to a close yesterday with a valedictory session at the National Assembly Complex Abuja.
The Chairman of the 8th Assembly and Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Deputy NASS Chairman, Speaker Yakubu Dogara used the opportunity to provide their versions of accomplishment by the two houses.
There is no doubt that the 8th NASS has been the most stable in Nigeria’s history in terms of leadership.
Senator Bukola Abubakar Saraki was Senate President while Senator Ike Ekweremadu was Deputy Senate President for the whole four years. This is almost a strange thing in Nigeria’s political arrangement. The usual impeachment and replacement of leaders in previous dispensations were absent. Honourable Yakubu Dogara weathered rhe storm as Speaker of the House of Representatives and Honourable Yusuf Sulaimon Lasun was Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
While the 8th NASS leaders claim much credit in passing many bills, many people believe they could have done more if they avoided the unnecessary political clashes with the executive arm whose leaders were also not willing to back down on most of those controversial issues.
Court and tribunal cases, corruption and padding allegations, siege by security forces on the Assembly complex/residences, disagreements on bills and federal budget as well as party alignments and carpet crossings were some of the disruptive issues that plagued this assembly and smooth relationship with the executive.
The 8th Assembly is said to have passed about 300 Bills in the four years of its tenure but analysts say there were at least 500 more that are pending and which will now have to wait for the succeeding 9th Assembly.
By yesterday, President Muhammadu Buhari had issued the proclamation for the dissolution of the 8th National Assembly to take effect from 12 midnight on June 8, that is tonight. That means that from 8th of June by 12 midnight, the 8th National Assembly will be history.
Similarly, the 9th National Assembly will be inaugurated and the first sitting will be next Tuesday, 11th of June at 10a.m. in the National Assembly complex Abuja.
In fact, the management of the National Assembly has given outgoing senators three days to hand over office keys and equipment in their possession.
So that is it for the 8th National Assembly – a politically turbulent period where blames were traded back and forth to the detriment of positive fruits for the citizens socially, economically and politically.
But how different will the 9th Assembly be from the 8th?
The political tension generated by disagreements by members of the majority party on who should be Senate President and House of Representatives Speaker has placed everyone on the alert that things may not be as smooth as expected. We hope that this tension will be doused and political reason will prevail.
We are watching.
Image Credit: Voice of Nigeria
Nassnig.org
Epa Ogie Eboigbe, veteran journalist, broadcaster and public affairs specialist writes and analyses current and historical issues with a ‘wise pen’.
Quite detailed article, the 8th NASS was free from replacement drama but her relationship with the Executive slowed down passing of some laws that would have been of great impact to the nation. Nice one epa