Aminu Tambuwal
The Seventh Session of the House of Representatives has come a long way since it was inaugurated on June 6, 2011. In this report, Onwuka Nzeshi reviews the activities of the Green Chamber in the last twelve months
Since the rebirth of democracy thirteen years ago, the House of Representatives has been a hot spot in Nigeria’s political arena. The Green Chamber has always presented to the Nigerian public a variety of developments that could make it the envy of any classical theatre.
The Highlights
In 2012, the situation was not different. The lower chamber of the National Assembly dominated the headlines more because of the probes it instituted into various issues than for any landmark bill it passed. More often than not, it shot itself at the foot when its numerous attempts to investigate issues of corruption dragged it into some messy bribery scandals.
Bills
It received and considered a total of two hundred and seventy three (273)bills during the year. These include some important legislations such as the Petroleum Industry Bill, Nigeria Social Security Bill, National Honours Award Bill and the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill.
A few of these bills have been passed into law while many are still at different stages in the legislative mill. As at June 2012, the bill chart released by the House Committee on Rules and Business showed that the chamber had passed 32 bills, 278 motions and 172 petitions.
It responded to the rising wave of terrorism in the country through various motions condemning the series of suicide bomb attacks on religious centres, security institutions and other public places. It also passed an amendment to the Terrorism Prevention Act in September 2012.
On the economic front, the House passed the 2012 Appropriation Bill, the 2013-2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper as well as the 2013 Appropriation Bill. All of these did not come on a platter of gold but were victories obtained after long drawn battles with the executive.
Subsidy Probe
The House conducted investigations on almost every sector but its intervention in the fuel subsidy crisis remains evergreen.
It broke national records very early in the year when it convened an emergency session on Sunday January 8 to mediate in the crisis arising from the removal of fuel subsidy.
The Highlights
In 2012, the situation was not different. The lower chamber of the National Assembly dominated the headlines more because of the probes it instituted into various issues than for any landmark bill it passed. More often than not, it shot itself at the foot when its numerous attempts to investigate issues of corruption dragged it into some messy bribery scandals.
Bills
It received and considered a total of two hundred and seventy three (273)bills during the year. These include some important legislations such as the Petroleum Industry Bill, Nigeria Social Security Bill, National Honours Award Bill and the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill.
A few of these bills have been passed into law while many are still at different stages in the legislative mill. As at June 2012, the bill chart released by the House Committee on Rules and Business showed that the chamber had passed 32 bills, 278 motions and 172 petitions.
It responded to the rising wave of terrorism in the country through various motions condemning the series of suicide bomb attacks on religious centres, security institutions and other public places. It also passed an amendment to the Terrorism Prevention Act in September 2012.
On the economic front, the House passed the 2012 Appropriation Bill, the 2013-2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper as well as the 2013 Appropriation Bill. All of these did not come on a platter of gold but were victories obtained after long drawn battles with the executive.
Subsidy Probe
The House conducted investigations on almost every sector but its intervention in the fuel subsidy crisis remains evergreen.
It broke national records very early in the year when it convened an emergency session on Sunday January 8 to mediate in the crisis arising from the removal of fuel subsidy.
It was the first time in the history of the National Assembly that any of the two chambers would sit on a weekend to deliberate on an issue of national importance. By tradition, the parliament sits only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The special session had all characteristics of a legislature courting the friendship of the populace. It also had the trappings of a brewing political battle and marked the beginning of a rivalry between the legislature and the executive.
The special session had all characteristics of a legislature courting the friendship of the populace. It also had the trappings of a brewing political battle and marked the beginning of a rivalry between the legislature and the executive.
It was at this emergency session that the House spoke in very clear terms that it was opposed to the removal of subsidy on petroleum products. It was also at this session that an Adhoc Committee was set up to investigate the administration of the fuel subsidy scheme.
President Goodluck Jonathan had earlier on New Year’s Day announced the total scrapping of the subsidy on petroleum products. In response, the House at its special session condemned the policy review and instituted an investigation into the management of the Petroleum Support Fund.
President Goodluck Jonathan had earlier on New Year’s Day announced the total scrapping of the subsidy on petroleum products. In response, the House at its special session condemned the policy review and instituted an investigation into the management of the Petroleum Support Fund.
Although the House agreed with the Presidency that the subsidy scheme was dogged by corruption, it did not believe that scrapping the entire scheme was the way out.
The lawmakers took the rather populist position of insisting that subsidy must remain and government must confront headlong the hydra-headed monster called corruption and its agents, the oil cabal.
The lawmakers took the rather populist position of insisting that subsidy must remain and government must confront headlong the hydra-headed monster called corruption and its agents, the oil cabal.
The House Adhoc Committee commenced its probe of the subsidy scheme on the presumption that much of the corruption associated with the subsidy scheme was the handiwork of some highly placed persons in the executive arm of government. It worked relentlessly on that theory until Hon.Farouk Lawan ran into the N620,000 bribery scandal and the hunter became the hunted.
Even this occurrence generated more suspicion and fuelled the conspiracy theory that the House was at war with the executive arm of government.
Stock Market Probe
The House soon embarked on another investigation. This time, it was to unravel what led to the collapse of the capital market. It was not long before the investigators of the capital market became those to be investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over another bribery scandal. This has remained a sore point in the relationship between the House and the executive even till this day.
Budget Row
By June when the House was preparing to embark on its annual vacation, the lawmakers took the fight straight to the Presidential Villa. The lawmakers conducted a mid-year audit of the 2012 budget and released a preliminary report that painted the executive in very dark colours.
Even this occurrence generated more suspicion and fuelled the conspiracy theory that the House was at war with the executive arm of government.
Stock Market Probe
The House soon embarked on another investigation. This time, it was to unravel what led to the collapse of the capital market. It was not long before the investigators of the capital market became those to be investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over another bribery scandal. This has remained a sore point in the relationship between the House and the executive even till this day.
Budget Row
By June when the House was preparing to embark on its annual vacation, the lawmakers took the fight straight to the Presidential Villa. The lawmakers conducted a mid-year audit of the 2012 budget and released a preliminary report that painted the executive in very dark colours.
This was accompanied by a subtle threat of impeachment, which also kept the executive on its toes. Incidentally, the relationship was further complicated following the insistence by the legislators that budget 2012 must be fully implemented and the 2013 budget presented to the parliament early to enhance early passage.
The row did not end with the numerous legislative audits on the 2012 Appropriation Act and the countless summons of the executive to give account of its stewardship.
Key functionaries of the executive such as the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Allison-Madueke; Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and Director-General Budget Office, Dr Bright Okogwu, were guests of the parliament for several weeks.
Key functionaries of the executive such as the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Allison-Madueke; Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and Director-General Budget Office, Dr Bright Okogwu, were guests of the parliament for several weeks.
Impeachment Move
It was also the budget row that made the House toy with the threat to impeach President Jonathan. Minority Leader of the House, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila (ACN/Lagos), mooted the idea during his contribution to the motion.
Indeed, the debate on the alleged poor implementation of the budget drifted off its normal course when some lawmakers began to expand the issue and demanded that the executive be sanctioned. It was however Gbajabiamila that summoned the courage to issue the threat that the House may consider it an impeachable offence if the executive did not buckle up.
Although impeachment was not part of the original motion, the favourable reaction of the leadership and entire members to this suggestion made it the dominant issue for several weeks.
House Memebers Who Hugged Headlines
Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, and other principal officers made their mark in steering the House through the political land mines.
It was also the budget row that made the House toy with the threat to impeach President Jonathan. Minority Leader of the House, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila (ACN/Lagos), mooted the idea during his contribution to the motion.
Indeed, the debate on the alleged poor implementation of the budget drifted off its normal course when some lawmakers began to expand the issue and demanded that the executive be sanctioned. It was however Gbajabiamila that summoned the courage to issue the threat that the House may consider it an impeachable offence if the executive did not buckle up.
Although impeachment was not part of the original motion, the favourable reaction of the leadership and entire members to this suggestion made it the dominant issue for several weeks.
House Memebers Who Hugged Headlines
Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, and other principal officers made their mark in steering the House through the political land mines.
But apart from the presiding and principal officers, some lawmakers dominated the scene during the year. A discussion about the chamber in 2012 would be incomplete without a mention of these legislators.
For courage in confronting the executive on several issues, Minority Leader, Hon. Gbajabiamila must be mentioned and conversely for showing resilience in checkmating the attacks on the executive, the House Majority Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, also deserves a mention.
For courage in confronting the executive on several issues, Minority Leader, Hon. Gbajabiamila must be mentioned and conversely for showing resilience in checkmating the attacks on the executive, the House Majority Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, also deserves a mention.
On the other hand, there were other personalities who brought the chamber to spotlight in other ways. They include Hon. Farouk Lawan (PDP/Kano) and Hon. Herman Hembe (PDP/Benue). These legislators led the House through two very popular investigations that ended in controversy.
Lawan was the star of the Fuel Subsidy Probe while Hembe was the brain behind the probe into the collapse of the Capital Market.
The fall of Hembe early into the capital market investigation paved way for the emergence of Hon. Ibrahim El-Sudi(PDP/Taraba) who completed the assignment amidst more controversies.
The fall of Hembe early into the capital market investigation paved way for the emergence of Hon. Ibrahim El-Sudi(PDP/Taraba) who completed the assignment amidst more controversies.
There was also Hon. Abdulmuminu Jibrin who led the committee that conducted investigation into the alleged non-remittance of N450 billion revenue into the Federation Account by NNPC. Jibrin, who heads the House Committee on Finance, also ended that investigation on a controversial note as the report never saw the light of day.
The Conflicts
Most of the time, the House adopted a combative posture in its dealings with the executive. The outcome was the conflict and high level drama that accompanied its activities.
The Conflicts
Most of the time, the House adopted a combative posture in its dealings with the executive. The outcome was the conflict and high level drama that accompanied its activities.
In all, the relationship between the House and the Presidency was anything but cordial for most of last year.
Some political analysts have described the relationship as persistently turbulent, usually stormy and akin to what is obtainable in a cat and mouse enclave.
Some political analysts have described the relationship as persistently turbulent, usually stormy and akin to what is obtainable in a cat and mouse enclave.
The two institutions often approached each other with lots of ego, show of power and intense suspicion. Almost every encounter generated more suspicion and fuelled the conspiracy theory that the House was at war with the executive arm of government.
It appeared there was always a plot by one arm to seek the humiliation of the other.
Some unseen hands appear to be pulling the strings of crisis from behind the scene. The result is the pressure on both sides and the heating up of the polity.
It appeared there was always a plot by one arm to seek the humiliation of the other.
Some unseen hands appear to be pulling the strings of crisis from behind the scene. The result is the pressure on both sides and the heating up of the polity.
It is, however, heart warming to know that in spite of this conflict mood, the House was consistent in its conviction that it was essentially doing its job and was right on track in the eyes of the Constitution.
One school of thought has postulated that the relationship between the executive and legislature remains a special one and can hardly be too cordial going by the democratic principle of checks and balances.
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