TNigeria's Democracy Day - CISLAC...
Transcript of TNigeria's Democracy Day - CISLAC...
VOL. 10 No. 6, JUNE, 2016A PUBLICATION OF CISLAC
Continued on page 4
he recent celebrations of
Nigeria's Democracy Day Tmarked exactly one year since
the emergence of the 8th National
Assembly with a solemn declaration
asserting that the Assembly under
the new legislators shall make
relentless legislative effort to resolve
Nigeria's problems.
Apparently, critical performance
assessment of the Assembly has
become essential to understand how
the legislators are faring in their
trend towards fulfilling their electoral
mandates.
Legislature as a law-making body
of a political unit has power to enact,
amend, and repeal public policy. Just
as the legislature has the mandate to
control through legislation all
economic, social and political
activities of the nation, it also
scrutinizes the policies of the
e x e c u t i v e a n d p r o v i d e s t h e
framework for the judiciary to
operate.
The core mandates of the
legislature are explicitly stated in the
1999 Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria. It is on this note
that the Constitution outlines the
powers of the Federal legislature,
which is divided into two Chambers:
the Senate (Upper Chamber) and the
House of Representatives (Lower
Chamber).
By: Abubakar Jimoh
www.facebook.com/cislacnigeria@cislacnigeria website: www.cislacnigeria.net
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
shall be vested in a National
Assembly for the Federation, which
shall consist of a Senate and a House
of Representatives.”
Among the first year appreciable
legislative efforts by the 8th
Assembly were the passage of
s i g n i f i c a n t B i l l s s u c h a s
A p p r o p r i a t i o n B i l l 2 0 1 6 ,
C r i m i n a l i s a t i o n o f S e x u a l
Harassment Bill, North East
Development Commission Bill,
Electronic Transaction Bill, Debt
NASS: A Critical Assessment of One-Year Legislative Activities
T h i s p i e c e t a k e s c r i t i c a l
assessment of performance by the
legislators in accordance with those
key const i tut ional funct ions
identified by the Civil Society
Legis lat ive Advocacy Centre
(CISLAC) such as law-making,
oversight, representation, financial
control, confirmation of appointment,
and constitution amendment.
Section 4(1) of the Constitution
provides that the “legislative powers
Law-making
ivil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) is a non-governmental, non-profit, advocacy, Cinformation sharing, research, and capacity building organisation. Its mission is to strengthen the link between civil society and the legislature through advocacy and capacity building for civil society groups and policy makers on legislative processes and governance issues.
CISLAC was integrated as a corporate body (CAC/IT/NO22738) with the Nigeria's Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on the 28th December 2006. Prior to this incorporation, however, CISLAC had actively been engaged in legislative advocacy work since 2005. The organisation is also compliant with the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2007. The Organisation reports to SCUML, any transaction that is above One thousand dollars, detailing the payee, purpose and the other KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements. This is done on a weekly or monthly basis depending on the volume of transactions and to ensure appropriate compliance with anti-money laundering laws. Also, CISLAC is registered organisation under the National Planning Commission.
As indicated above, the organisation emerged from the need to address the gaps in legislative advocacy work of civil society and government access to civil society groups. CISLAC's engagement with Federal Ministries, National and State Assemblies, Local Government Administrations, private sector interests, and non-government organisations, has opened a window through which the public and policy officials can interact and collaborate.
CISLAC through its engagement of the governance processes in Nigeria has facilitated the enactment of several primary legislations such as the Fiscal Responsibility Act, Public Procurement Act, and Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative Act which promotes transparency and accountability in governance as well as the domestication of international conventions at the Federal and state levels in Nigeria. CISLAC also supported the passage of the Freedom of Information Act. Other pieces of legislations such the National Tobacco Control Bill, National Health Bill, Disability Bill, Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill, Violence and Persons Prohibition Bill, Whistleblower Protection Bill, Prison Reform Bill, etc. are also supported by CISLAC.
As a renowned CSO in Legislative advocacy in the region, CISLAC has on several occasions shared its experience on best practises for legislative advocacy on invitation from its international partners such as the World Bank Parliamentary Forum and the United Nations Millennium Campaign in African countries such as Kenya and Zimbabwe. Similarly, Ghana, Kenya, and Democratic Republic of Congo have also requested support from CISLAC for replication of their work in Legislative advocacy. In many West African countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Cameroon, Niger, Togo and Benin Republic, CISLAC has carried out experience sharing and advocacy exercises on the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative processes through supporting the passage of extractive industry initiative laws in these countries. CISLAC has also undertaken capacity building for legislators, CSOs and Media on policy engagements in the above countries.
CISLAC's sub-granting experience includes grants to national organisations. With skilled, committed, experienced and proactive leadership and employees, particularly in the areas of coalition building, tenacious advocacy, community mobilization and the clout needed to engage lawmakers at all levels, the organization proven capacity to attract international solidarity, engage policy makers and mobilize local civil society groups and communities into action.
GOAL
“To make legislature accessible and responsive to all”.
VISION
“A Nigeria in which citizens are participating in governance; the government is safeguarding the rights and welfare of the people; and non-state actors are providing space for citizens to demand accountability”.
MISSION
“To increase the legislature and CSOs' impact in the legislative process”.
ADVOCACY VISITS
CISLAC has successfully engaged key members of the National Assembly in order to wield their influence in ensuring that civil society positions are accommodated. In 2006, for instance, CISLAC targeted key players and created public awareness on draft legislation and questionable provisions incorporated by the National Assembly. Such efforts improved the levels of discipline, transparency, and accountability in the management and openness of fiscal responsibility, public procurement, and the nation's extractive Industry sector in Nigeria.
Through such efforts, CISLAC has empowered communities mostly affected by the extractive industry sector, improved the levels of information dissemination, and ensure due process and transparency in the payments made by extractive industry companies to the Federal Government and its agencies. It has also educated State and Federal legislators, their advisory staff, CSOs, the media, and key stakeholders on their oversight roles in legislation and has reviewed their commitment in implementation.
PUBLICATION OF MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS
CISLAC has strengthened civil society intervention by the publication of a monthly newsletter Legislative Digest and Tobacco Control Update which have been in circulation for both public and legislative consumption since October 2006 and June 2013 respectively. It has been a central medium of accountability, as it monitors the performance of Legislators, and a channel for advocacy on critical issues that need legislation. Also, CISLAC has a wide range of publications such as Textbooks and Policy Briefs.
CISLAC'S MAJOR DONORS
1. Oxfam Novib
2. Oxfam International
3. Oxfam GB
4. Ford Foundation
5. Mac Arthur Foundation
6. PACT Nigeria/USAID
7. United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC)
8. Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)
9. Heinrich Boll Foundation (HBF)
10. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
11. Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK)
12. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
13. The Federal Public Administration Reform (FEPAR)/DFID
14. T.Y. Danjuma Foundation
15. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)
16. Voice for Change (V4C)
17. National Endowment for Democracy
18. Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP)
19. USAID/Strengthening Advocacy and Civic Engagement (SACE)
20. International Organisation for Migration (IOM)
21. African Capacity Building Foundation
22. Australian Government
23. North East Regional Initiative (NERI)
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEE
This is the policy-making organ of the organisation. It approves the budget of the organisation, provides contacts for operational funds and supports the operation of the secretariat.
1. Mr. Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani)
2. Mr. Adesina Oke
3. Mr. Y.Z Y'au
4. Ms. Nkoyo Toyo
5. Ms. Hadiza Kangiwa
6. Mr. Adagbo Onoja
ADVISORY COUNCIL
The Advisory Council is an advisory organ consisting of people with vast experience and knowledge of socio-economic and political dynamics in the country and across the world. 1. Hon. Uche Onyeaguocha2. Prof. Okey Ibeanu3. Prof. Sam Egwu4. Dr. Abubakar Momoh5. Chom Bagu6. Gen. Ishola Williams (rtd)7. Dr. Afia Zakiya (Ms)8. Prof. Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan9. Halima Ben Umar (Ms.)10. Bukhari Bello
THE SECRETARIAT
The Secretariat is vested with the day-to-day running of the organization. It implements the decisions of the Board of Trustees. It is headed by an Executive Director who oversees the day-to-day running of the organisation while a Senior Program Officer oversees programmes implementation along with other programme staff.
Head Office, Abuja:
Mr. Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) - Executive DirectorMr. Kolawole Banwo - Senior Program Officer (Extractive,
Environment and Security)Mr. Okeke Anya - Senior Program Officer (ECOWAS & AU)Ms. Chioma Blessing Kanu - Snr. Program Officer (MDGs, Gender, Reproductive
Health and Anti-corruption)Mr. Salaudeen Hashimu Nurani - Program Officer (Human Rights/Migration,
Agriculture/ Livelihood)Mr. Abubakar Jimoh - Head, Communication and InformationMr. Chinedu Bassey - Program Officer (Tax Justice)Mrs. Hauwa'u Bin Abdallah - Admin OfficerMr. Omomhenle Ehis - Finance OfficerMr. Gonji Dadoh Timbut - Assistant Finance OfficerMrs. Abimbola S. Okoilu- Miró - Secretary/Assistant Program OfficerMr. Augustine Erameh - Assistant Program OfficerMs. Lovelyn Agbor - Monitoring and Evaluation OfficerMs. Onyekachi Eke - Media OfficerMr. Muhammed Murtala Muhammed - Asst. Program OfficerMr. Prince Onwuike - M&E OfficerMs. Abiodun Oladipupo - Office AssistantMs. Fatima Shaibu - Office AssistantMs. Isese Sor - Intern Mr. Solomon Adoga Wonah - InternMs. Chinasa Akah - InternMs. Isibakhome Azugbene - Intern
Regional Office: Kano
Mr. Nura Maaji - Program Officer
About us
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 20162
EDITORIAL
he Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre
(CISLAC) welcomes the on-going devoted Tattention by Senate of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria to the NEITI Audit Reports for 2013 released
recently. We welcome the commitment by the Senate
President that the Report will be debated henceforth in
the Plenary Sessions on the floor of the Senate.
It would be recalled that upon the release of the report on
May 23, 2016, CISLAC had in a Statement, decried the
recurrence of damning findings it contained and called
on the National Assembly to, upon receipt of the Reports,
table them for debate in plenary and use it as a
springboard to expedite the passage of the PIB.
CISLAC had always advocated that a major component
of legislative responsibility in effective oversight of the
implementation of the NEITI process and Audit Report, to
which Nigeria commits huge amounts of financial and
human resources, is to have it debated on the floor of the
NASS and thereafter followed by Resolutions which are
then followed through for implementation. We had
always advocated that these actions were critical in
ensuring the implementation of remedial action arising
from the reports.
We therefore consider the pronouncements of the
Senate President, as widely reported in the media, a
commendable development and a step in the right
direction. We note that when eventually done, it would be
the first time it will be happening since the
commencement of the implementation of the NEITI
process in Nigeria.
CISLAC believes that the debate in plenary will, in
addition to publicizing the findings to promote deeper
debates among citizens, contribute to facilitating the
implementation of the recommendations of the auditors,
by engaging the NSWG to promptly set up the Inter-
Ministerial Task Team, IMTT and prompting them into
immediate action.
We therefore urge the senate to do more by ensuring that
these pronouncements by her President does not end up
as a mere media show and quest for positive media
attention but is followed up by action that will culminate into
the immediate scheduling of the report for plenary debate
as promised. Such debates, when held, should be devoid
of sensationalism, partisanship and politics, but robust,
focused, issue based and constructive, portraying the level
of intelligence and constructiveness that Nigerians expect
of their elected representatives. They should then be
concluded with Resolutions that are practical and
actionable with the NASS deploying every strategy within
their powers to ensure implementation so as to deepen the
level of transparency and accountability in the extractive
sector.
We encourage the House of Representatives to follow suit
in debating the reports an also coming up with useful
Resolutions. CISLAC calls on the relevant Committees in
both chambers to strengthen their oversight of the covered
entities and other agencies involved in the management of
revenues from our natural resources, to ensure that they
lead up to expectations as a proactive way of preventing
the recurrence of the nature of findings reported in the
2013 in subsequent reports.
CISLAC reiterates the call on the Federal Government to
urgently commence the process for the passage of the
PIB. Working with the media and all other stakeholders, we
will continue to engage the National Assembly to ensure
that they fulfil their obligations to the Nigerian people until
the management of extractive revenues translate to
tangible benefits and development for all citizens.
Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani)
Editor-in-Chief
Abubakar JimohEditor
Chioma Kanu
Abimbola S. Okoilu-Miró
REGIONAL OFFICE: KANO
3rd Floor, NISTF Building
No. 1A, Social Insurance Road Behind Trade Fair Complex
Zaria Road, Kano
P.O. Box 10210
Kano State
REGIONAL OFFICE: ADAMAWA
Government Lodge Area
Off Main Drive
Dougerei Layout
Jimeta, Yola
Adamawa State
REGIONAL OFFICE: YOBE
Maiduguri Road,
Adjacent Federal Polytechnic
Near EcoBank,
Damaturu,
Yobe state
CONTACT ADDRESS:
Flat 3, No. 16 P.O.W. Mafemi Crescent
Off Solomon Lar Way
Behind Chida Hotel
Near Daily Trust Newspapers Office
Utako District, Abuja - Nigeria
Tel: 234-08033844646
Website: www.cislacnigeria.netEmail: cislac@
cislacnigeria.net
CISLAC Welcomes Senate's Attention to NEITI Audit Report
A Publication of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 2016 3
COVER STORY
Continued from page 1
compared to 123 bills passed and 115
motions considered by 7th Assembly
in four years. While 130 bills were
passed for the First Reading on a
single day in 2015, the Speaker
compared these achievements with
the 591 bills introduced in the
Seventh National Assembly in four
years.
Also, in terms of legislation,
Nigerians would not fast forget the
egocentric attempt by the Upper
Chamber to hasting the passage of
proposed amendment to the law
setting up the Code of Conduct
Bureau (CCB) and the Code of
Conduct Tribunal (CCT), with a view
to whittling down the agencies'
powers.
This triggered public debates on
need for persistent checks and
balances over the constitutional
power of the legislature. For instance,
a group of Civil Society Organisations
(CSOs) working to promote justice
and good governance in Nigeria
described as “betrayal of public trust,
total disregard for administration of
justice, and utmost conflict of
interest”, the attempt by the Senate
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to
hasten the passage of the proposed
amendment to the law setting up the
Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and
the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The group, which consists 23
CSOs in a press conference held
recently in Abuja noted that it was
monitoring with consternation, “the
undemocratic, self-serving, and
dubious effort of the Senate”. It said it
was clear that the underhand moves
in the Senate were aimed at whittling
down the powers of the agencies, and
not about making it better to
strengthen the anti-corruption fight.
Besides, despite public criticisms
against the Assembly's huge budget
as contains in the 2016 Appropriation
Act, the original sum allocated was
retained. Indeed, attempt by the
executive arm to halt the overburden
cost of governance in the legislature
resulted in needless delay in the
Recovery and Insolvency Bill 2015
and the Railway Transformation Bill.
The House has constituted a
standing Committee on Refugees,
Migrants, Internally Displaced
Persons and Initiatives on the North
East Zone. It passed a Resolution on
Rehabilitation, Reconstruction,
Recovery and Development of the
North East of Nigeria. In addition, a
request was made to President
Muhammadu Buhari to set up
machinery for the establishment of a
N o r t h E a s t D e v e l o p m e n t
Commission and to facilitate the
convening of an International Donor
Conference or Summit as soon as
possible to actualise the Resolution.
The Upper Legislative Chamber
has passed no fewer than 300 Bills
and 162 motions. In collaboration
with international partners and the
private sector, it researched into the
ways and means of improving the
business environment to attract
investment which led to the
identification of 54 laws that must be
brought in line with international
best practices in order to open up the
business environment for private
investment and business, and the
subsequent 15 major economic reform
bills and seven business environment
bills that would help to jump-start the
economy and improve the living
conditions of Nigerians.
Similarly, within the period, the
House received a total of 685 bills and
considered over 530 motions
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 20164
The Upper Legislative Chamber
has passed no fewer than 300
Bills and 162 motions.
NASS: A Critical Assessment of One-Year Legislative Activities
COVER STORY
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 2016 5
Another attempt of the Nigerian Senate to
regulate the social media platforms through a
Bill entitled 'Frivolous Petitions Bill' received
serious response, mostly condemnations both
within and outside the country
88 of the 1999 Constitution (as
amended in 2010), which empowers
the legislature to carry out
investigations within its competence
to prevent and expose corruption,
inefficiency or waste in the execution
or administration of laws.
As part of its oversight efforts,
worried by paucity of funds in many
states of the federation to carry out
developmental projects, in April
2016, the National Assembly
summoned 26 states over the
expenses incurred on the federal
roads projects executed in their
respective states, with a view to
ascertaining the facts and figures for
a refund. The meeting was reportedly
called at the instance of the House
Committee on Works so as to assist
the committee to verify all claims
submitted by the states affected by
non-payment of funds incurred on
some of the federal roads projects.
The Assembly had summoned key
players in the petroleum industry
over the state of the country's
refineries and N1trillion oil revenue
fund reportedly missing the
Executive Secretary of the Nigeria
Extractive Industry Transparency
Initiative (NEITI). The House
Committee on Privatisation at the
same summoned Minister of State for
Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu to
explain reasons behind the decision of
the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) rather than the
Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE)
opening bids for the sale of the three
refineries in Warri, Kaduna and Port
Harcourt.
The Senate and the House of
Representatives Joint Committee on
Appropriation had summoned the
Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun
and her budget and Planning
counterpart, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma
to appear before it and explain the
reasons behind the 2016 proposed
budget mess. Concerned by the
present economic situation in the
country, the Senate summoned the
Minister of Finance and the Governor
of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr.
Godwin Emefiele to appear before it
passage and assent to the 2016
Appropriation Bill. The legislature's
high cost of governance in the face of
the nation's austere financial
challenges had received serious
criticisms from the public. For
instance, Robert Awokuse, a public
affair analysis wrote: “It is pitiable
that many political office holders are
not ready to make necessary
sacrifices that will enhance speedy
development. The latest situation at
the National Assembly indicated that
many of the federal lawmakers may
not be ready to make some sacrifices
as being predicted by many political
watchers.
“If indeed the lawmakers, as
representatives of the Nigerians,
refuse any possible reduction of their
salary and allowances, their actions
may be said to contrast the role of a
responsible father, who is expected to
prioritise the needs of his family over
his own sentiments. Many have
fumed at the swelling ranks of
lawmakers who accrue so much to
themselves, particularly the situation
where they are alleged to collect huge
salaries and allowances, running into
billions of naira without addressing
the legitimate concerns of the
workers.”
Another attempt of the Nigerian
Senate to regulate the social media
platforms through a Bill entitled
“Frivolous Petitions Bill” received
s e r i o u s r e s p o n s e , m o s t l y
condemnations both within and
outside the country. Many questioned
the significant of “Social Media Bill”
to speedily command intensive
legislative support of the Upper
Chamber and scaled through the
second reading within short time,
unlike other important Bills that
would have served the best interest of
common Nigerians like National
Health Bill (now Act) which laid
dormant in the Assembly for more
than a decade before it was
successfully passed into law by the
7th Assembly; Petroleum Industry
Bill (PIB); Protection of Persons with
Disabilities Bill; Anti-torture Bill;
2010 Electoral Act Amendment Bill;
Whistle-blower Protection Bill;
Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill;
among others. The Bill was later
withdrawn following persistent
public outcry.
Oversight function of the National
legislature is provided under Section
Oversight Function
COVER STORY
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 20166
legislators not only derive their
mandate directly from the people but
also have to render accountability to
the people. In the analysis of CISLAC,
there are three dimensions of
l e g i s l a t i v e a c c o u n t a b i l i t y :
Information accountability — the
extent to which representatives
provide information to their
constituencies; Representational
accountability — the extent to which
act ions and del iberat ions of
legislators informed by the actual
issues that their constituencies want
a d d r e s s e d ; a n d G o v e r n a n c e
accountability — the extent to which
legislators ensure that the executives
over which they oversight utilize
public resources to promote the
welfare of the people and to generally
develop the society.
Within the year under review,
legislative activities were dominated
by the procurement of 108 brand new
Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles by the
Senate in spite the financial
challenges confronting the country
and the public clamour for reduction
in cost of governance, resulting in
extensive public debates on what
should const i tute legis lat ive
mandates and core democratic
values. The legislative time and
resources geared towards the
baseless struggles for possession of
the vehicles became a shocking
development; as the citizens began to
question the quality and interest of
the legislators who were primarily
elected to serve common goal.
Nigerians did not hid their ill-feelings
against the legislators' sudden
clamour for exotic vehicles at a time
when the country is confronted with a
chronic public finance challenge
characterised by inability of many
states to pay salaries and the
inability of the Federal Government
to raise sufficient revenue amidst
declining crude oil prices.
This to a large extent raises a
critical question on whether the
citizens have fair representation in
the legislature and if they do, how
accountable and transparent are
legislators in the legislative issues.
The extent of public dissatisfaction in
the legislative representation was
explicitly stated in a statement by the
Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC)
President, Ayuba Wabba, when he
said it was “morally despicable and
shameful” that the lawmakers
embarked on such acquisition when
they were supposed to occupy
themselves with issues that would
benefit the people.
“ W e c o n s i d e r a p p a l l i n g ,
insensitive and greedy the decision of
the Senate to acquire 108 Toyota
Land Cruiser jeeps (one for each
member less the Senate President)
after collecting car “loans” in August
last year for the same purpose,”
Wabba said.
Similarly, Olalekan Adigun, a
Political Risk Analyst, in a recent
published piece titled “Wither the
Senate?” bemoaned: “Since current
Senator are former governors,
ministers, Representatives and other
political office holders, who are on in
one way or the other on public
financed pensions, we propose
withdrawal of monetary packages for
these previous political officeholders
in the Red Chamber. Legislative
bodies are not money-spinning
institutions. The legislature is a
chamber of reflection, not luxuries.”
The legislators have a duty to
represent the interests of the public.
Apart from servicing the needs of
constituencies, for legislators to be
effective, they must listen to the
citizens, brief them about legislative
and policy issues, aggregate the
demands of these constituencies into
legislative agenda and project these
and brief the Upper chamber on the
Monetary and fiscal policies adopted
to salvage the current economic
situation. The House also summoned
the Governor of the Central Bank of
Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to explain
the policy directing commercial banks
to reject foreign currency deposits.
The House as well summoned the
Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mr.
Solomon Arase, and the Attorney
General of the Federation, AGF, and
Minister of Justice, Abubakar
Malami, over the AGF's directive to
the IG to disregard the National
Assembly's resolution to seal Kogi
State House of Assembly pending the
resolution of the crisis that engulfed
the Assembly.
Representation is an important
function of the legislature. The
legislature has the primary mandate
to carry out representative functions
on behalf of the people who in our
case, are demarcated in 360 federal
constituencies. The legislators have a
duty to represent the interests of their
individual constituencies. Apart from
servicing the needs of constituencies,
for legislators to be effective, they
must listen to their constituencies,
brief them about legislative and
policy issues, aggregate the demands
of these constituencies into legislative
agenda and project these demands on
the floor of the legislative chambers.
The Civil Society Legislative
Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) opines
that as representatives of the people,
Representation
COVER STORY
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 2016 7
Within the first year, several
nominees for appointments were
screed and confirmed by the
Assembly. These include the
appointment of ministerial nominees
forwarded to it by President
Muhammadu Buhari. The nominees
were Nigerians drawn from across the
states and different professions.
In line with section 18 (1) of the
Armed Forces Act, Cap A 20 Laws of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the
Senate confirmed the appointment of
the new Service Chiefs. They are
Major-General Abayomi Gabriel
Olonisakin as Chief of Defence Staff
along with Major-General Tukur
Yusufu Buratai as Chief of Army
Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe
So far, constituency
outreach by the 8th
Assembly has poorly
communicated,
requiring
improvement due to
lack of structure for
feedback.
Ibas as Chief of Naval Staff and Air
Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar as
Chief of Air Staff.
The Senate witnessed the
consideration and confirmation of
Engr. Prof. Umaru Garba Danbatta
for appointment as Executive Vice
C h a i r m a n o f t h e N i g e r i a n
Communicat ions Commission
(NCC). It confirmed the appointment
of Management Directors of Asset
Management Corporation of Nigeria
(AMCON) including: Ahmed Lawan
Karu as Managing Director, Kola
Adeyeye as Executive Director,
Eberechukwu Fortunate Uneze as
Executive Director, Aminu Isma'il as
Executive Director.
The Senate approved the
appointment of Prof. Mahmood
Yakubu as Chairman of the
Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) with five other
commissioners—Mrs. Amina Bala
Zakari (North West), Dr. Antonia
Taiye Okoosi -Simbile (North
Central), Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo
(North East), Dr. Mohammed
Mustapha Lecky (South-south), and
Prince Adedeji Solomon Soyebi
(South West).
Also, the Senate screened and
confirmed the nomination of Mr.
Abdullahi Kaugama as the Resident
Electoral Commissioner for Jigawa
State, Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) in
accordance with Section 143 of the
th i rd s chedule o f the 1999
demands on the floor of the legislative
chambers.
Despite the intensity of the
destructions recorded in the on-going
face-off between the Presidency and
Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), who are
allegedly involved in the destruction
of oil pipelines, the Assembly has not
publicly communicated its position to
mitigate or avert the crisis.
Strengthening the linkages
between a legislature and the people
is a necessary step for promoting
peace and stability in a democratic
system. In the words of Nikhil Dutta
et al, these linkages are two-way
phenomena — top-down and bottom-
up communicat ion . That i s ,
legislators represent the people`s
interests, while simultaneously
providing feedback and information
to their constituents on the political
processes.
In this case, when citizens feel
that their views are represented in
government and their representative
bear constituents` interests in mind,
they are not only encouraged to
participate in legislative process, but
also accept the legislature to enact
legislation and the executive to
implement and enforce it.
So far, constituency outreach by
the 8th Assembly has poorly
c o m m u n i c a t e d , r e q u i r i n g
improvement due to lack of structure
for feedback. The Assembly must
explore various feedback mechanisms
to ensure full participation and
involvement of the constituents in the
legislative process.
The power of the Assembly to
confirm appointments by the
executives is contained under 147 (2)
of the constitution which states: “Any
appointment to the office of Minister
of the Government of the Federation
shall, if the nomination of any person
to such office is confirmed by the
Senate, be made by the President.”
Constituency Outreach
Confirmation of Appointment
COVER STORY
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 20168
N6.08trillion 2016 Appropriation Bill
earlier submitted to the National
Assembly by President Muhammadu
Buhari, following his outright
rejection of some line items, leading to
the subsequent withdrawal of the Bill
for adjustment.
In a letter addressed to the
Assembly, the President officially
called for withdrawal of the Bill for
adjustment. The call for its
withdrawal by president Buhari was
not unconnected to the discovery of
some exorbitant figures not in tune
with the current dismal economic
realities in the country.
Following the return of the
Appropriation Bill to the National
Assembly by President Buhari,
relevant joint committees of the
Assembly were charged to subject the
Bill to rigorous scrutiny to ensure
h o l i s t i c c o m p l i a n c e t o t h e
fundamental principles of the
proposed Zero-Based Budgeting.
However, on its passage to the
executive for assent, President
Buhari had refused assent to the Bill
upon misgivings that a number of
critical projects notably, the Calabar-
Lagos rail line, were removed by the
Senate and House Committees on
Appropriation, led by Senator
Danjuma Goje and Abdulmmumin
Jibrin respectively. Pressures by the
Presidency on the need to rewrite the
Budget and include critical projects
left out in the appropriation bill as
passed slipped into another crisis
with the threat by the National
Assembly to veto.
More importantly, the Joint
Committees also slashed funding of
routine immunisation for sustainable
polio eradication from N8 billion to N4
billion, forgetting dare dreadful
consequences of such decision. In
response, in a press conference held in
Lagos, Civil Society Legislative
Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and
Community Health and Research
Initiative (CHR) under the aegis of
Partnership for Advocacy in Child
and Family Health (PACFAH)
seriously frowned at the slashed
funding for routine immunisation.
After weeks of wrangling over the
2016 Appropriation Bill, the National
Assembly and the presidency finally
reached a compromise on the finer
details of the budget. Part of the
negotiation was to retain the main
underlining figures and parameters
of the budget with the executive
giving some room to the National
Assembly to alter, where necessary,
up to 20-30 per cent of the budgets of
federal ministries, departments and
agencies (MDAs).
Standing on this principle, the
joint committee of the National
Assembly and the executive reviewed
the subheads of the MDAs to ensure
that where budget cuts or additions
exceeded the 20-30 per cent
threshold, they were amended in line
with the agreement reached on the
budget. Through this process, the
s lashed funding for rout ine
immunisation was also returned.
Amendment of the Constitution is another
fundamental function of legislature. The
power and requirement by the National
Assembly for constitutional amendment
is laid down in Section 9(1) of the 1999
Constitution
Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria as Amended.
Amendment of the Constitution is
another fundamental function of
l e g i s l a t u r e . T h e p o w e r a n d
requirement by the National
Assembly f o r c ons t i tu t i ona l
amendment is laid down in Section
9(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which
states: “The National Assembly may,
subject to the provision of this section,
alter any of the provisions of this
Constitution.”
It would be recalled that the
Senate president, Dr. Abubakar
Bukola Saraki, had urged members of
the State Houses of Assembly in the
36 states to collaborate with the
National Assembly in ensuring the
timely amendment and passage of the
1999 Constitution this year. This
raises a question on how many times
would fruitless effort be made to
amend the Constitution. During the
past administration, over N2billion
expended on the amendment of the
Constitution, which was later
rejected former President Goodluck
Jonathan, just like the one that was
also not concluded after millions of
naira had been spent.
It is the core of democracy that
legislature controls the finance. That
is, no money could be spent or raised
by the executive without the previous
consent and approval of the
legislature. Also, no money can be
withdrawn from the Consolidated
F u n d o f t h e s t a t e w i t h o u t
author izat ion o f leg is lature .
Annually, budget containing the
estimated expenditure and income of
the ensuing year is placed before it.
The legislatures must ensure
effective control over public resources
(the budget legislation). Section 80
lays the powers of the legislature with
respect over budget.
In the wake of New Year,
c o n f u s i o n h a d t r a i l e d t h e
Constitution Amendment
Financial Control
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 2016 9
he Executive Director, African
Centre for Leadership , TStrategy & Development
(Centre LSD), Dr. Otive Igbuzor, has
said the Petroleum Industry
Governance Bill (PIGB) 2016 if passed
into law would provide appropriate
legal and regulatory framework
particularly important for optimal
performance of the oil and gas sector.
The Executive Director made this
known in a paper presented
Stakeholders Consultative Forum on
the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)
organised by Civil Society Legislative
Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in Abuja
recently.
Speaking on the significant of the
Bill, Dr. Igbuzor noted that hostile
nature of the existing law governing
the oil and gas sector in the country
led to reforms that culminated in
preparation of Petroleum Industry
Bill (PIB) in 2008, lamenting non-
passage of the Bill eight years after
owing to many factors.
He said: “Eight years later, the bill
has not been passed into law. There
are many factors that have hindered
the passage of the bill. However, there
are new opportunities for the bill to be
passed. A new bill, the Petroleum
Industry Governance Bill (PIGB)
2016 was presented on the floor of the
Senate on 13th April, 2016. The bill
addresses only the institutional and
governance structure of the petroleum
industry. The Petroleum Industry
Governance Bill (PIGB) is different
from previous versions of the PIB in
many ways.”
Discussing the objectives of the
new Bill, the Executive Director listed
that the Bill aims to: create efficient
and effective governing institutions
with clear and separate roles for the
petroleum industry; establish a
framework for the creation of
commercially oriented and profit
driven petroleum entities that
e n s u r e s v a l u e a d d i t i o n a n d
internationalization of the petroleum
industry; promote transparency and
accountability in the administration
of the petroleum resources of Nigeria;
and foster a conducive business
environment for petroleum industry
operations.
“The bill deals with issues
affecting ministerial powers, industry
regulation, NNPC restructuring and
establ ishment o f commerc ia l
entities,” explained.
He particularly reiterated that the
law should ensure competitive, open,
non-discretionary licensing and
t e n d e r p r o c e s s e s ; p r o m o t e
independent regulator insulated from
political interference; eliminate
discretionary powers to the President
and Minister of Petroleum; establish
Petroleum Host Community Fund to
be used for the development of
economic and social infrastructure of
the communities within the oil
producing areas; address the
lingering challenge of gas flaring, and
e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o t e c t i o n ,
remediation and restoration.
Also, at the Forum, Comrade
Afolabi Olawale, representing
NUPENGASSAN noted that a major
area of grave concern about Nigeria's
Petroleum Industry has been the
opaque nature of the industry. “Many
processes and activities do not enjoy
the same level of transparency as
compared to what obtains in the
hydrocarbon industries of Norway
and Brazil for example.
“In Nigeria and due to the opaque
nature o f several processes ,
controversies usually arise even
amongst government agencies on such
matters (for example) as the country's
daily production or revenue,” he said.
The Comrade continued: “We have
also had occasions when Presidents
and their Petroleum Ministers award
lucrative oil blocks to themselves or
their cronies. Routinely also,
contracts and licenses are awarded as
political patronage or personal
favours.
“It was to entrench greater
transparency in Nigeria's oil industry
that the country under President
Obasanjo signed up to the global
Extractive Industry Transparency
Initiative (EITI) and consequently
established the Nigeria Extractive
Industries Transparency Initiative
(NEITI) under the NEITI Act. It is
therefore imperative that the PIB
builds on the modest efforts of NEITI
and go further to erase the 'black hole'
perception of our oil and gas industry.”
Olawale advised that PIB must in
concrete term provide for total
transparency with regards to ward of
all contracts and licenses, and other
accompanying processes; make
specific provisions for the mandatory
publication of all incenses, tenders
and contracts ; make speci f ic
p r o v i s i o n s f o r v o i d i n g a l l
confidentiality clauses for oil revenue
and payment information; make
specific provisions for publication on
at least quarterly basis, statistical
figures of oil operations that include
but not limited to production, export,
and import figures; make specific
provisions for publication of annual
reports and audits of operations of
c o m m e r c i a l a n d a s s o c i a t e d
institutions created under the PIB.
'New PIGB Will Promote Transparency in the Oil and Gas Sector' – Experts
EXTRACTIVE TRANSPARENCY
By Abubakar Jimoh
Otive
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 201610
he House of Representatives TCommittee on Local Content has faulted Nigerian Immigration Service for incompetence in the management and monitoring of visas issued to foreigners, directing its management to be alive to its responsibilities of monitoring and applying due sanction for abuse of rule on expatriate quota.
The House also asked the Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahman Dambazzau (rtd) to apply the maximum limit in the deportation order of three
workers of Hyundai Heavy Industry Ltd (HHI). The affected expatriates are Een Soon Moon, Lee Byung Woo and Lee Yoo Jong. The development followed the discovery of gross violation of the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Content Development Act, 2010 by HHI with particular reference to the requirements for the expatriate quota approval.
Committee Chairman, Emmanuel Okon during a recent meeting with officials of NIS and HHI recalled that at its April 26, 2016 meeting with officials of HHI, it was discovered that Jong Lee, who represented the Managing Director was in Nigeria and working on expired Temporary Working Permit (TWP).
He said: “He was handed over to the NIS, with a request to investigate the HHI and the expatriate quota status of all the expatriates in the company. Upon
carrying the investigation, Lee was eventually repatriated from Nigeria only to have secretly re-entered Nigeria with Subject to Registration Visa (STR) and back working in the company's Lagos office. Further investigation by the Committee also yielded the fact that almost all the expatriates in the company have defective or expired visas. Findings of NIS confirmed that Messrs Moon Soo and Lee Jong work for two different companies even though the two are subsidiaries of South Korea-based parent company HHI.”
Okon added: “If the situation is not properly addressed, it will send a bad signal to the rest of the industry and beyond because the misuse and abuse of expatriate quota is a common occurrence with companies who bring in foreigners nationals. The Federal Ministry of Interior and the NIS must step up in the regulation of the quota system.”
he House of Representatives TSpecial Ad Hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has adopted the 2014 report of the National Conference as one of its working documents.
Despite the objection by President Muhammadu Buhari to the report of the National Conference convened by his predecessor former President Goodluck Jonathan, with the recent declaration that he had never read it and that the document would be confined to history,
h e N i g e r i a n S e n a t e h a s Tcommenced deliberation on the National Grazing Reserves Bill, which seeks to establish grazing reserves for pastoralists in the country.The Bill, which was sponsored by Rabiu Kwankwoso, representing Kano Central Senatorial District came amid recent outbreak of clashes between herdsmen and farmers mostly in
he Senate has directed Federal TGovernment to move the initial N50 billion part payment of the fine imposed on MTN by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) from the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) recovery account to NCC treasury single account (TSA).
S imi lar ly , the Senate has m a n d a t e d i t s C o m m i t t e e o n Communications to adequately probe the handling of the fine imposed on
the House Committee has chosen to follow a different path, as its decision to adopt the report was taken at a recent retreat presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Yussuff Sulaimon Lasun, who is also the chairman of the committee.
A recent statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Wole Oladimeji, confirmed that copies of the report had already been circulated among members of the Committee.
southern and central parts of the country. Prior to its passage for first reading in the Senate, the Bill had earlier been presented at the House of Representatives.
It would be recalled that many Nigerians are opposed to any plan to create grazing reserves in the middle and southern parts of the country.
MTN from N780 billion to N330 billion.
It would be recalled that NCC had in October, 2015, imposed a fine of N1.04 trillion on MTN over its decision to keep over five million unregistered subscribers in its network last year in violation of NCC Act. However, after persistent pressure from MTN and external forces, NCC reduced the fine to N780 billion before finally reviewing it to N330 billion.
he House of Representatives has Tinaugurated a 10 man Ad-hoc committee to collaborate with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other agencies with the view to ascertain the N2.9 trillion accrued into the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
The resolution was passed following the adoption of the motion on the 'Need to ascertain the proceeds of the Treasury Single Account to enhance transparency accountability and good governance', sponsored by Adamu Kamale.
Kamale who applauded the successful implementation of the pilot TSA scheme which was launched in 2012, noted that the implementation of the scheme has further help in combatting corrupt practices within the public service. He however lamented that some establishments are still left out.
He added that the present administration has demonstrated the political will to fully implement the TSA effective 15th September, 2015, leading to directives to banks to implement the technology platform that will help accommodate all MDAs in the scheme.
“We are aware of the disclosure by the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun on 3 March, 2016 that from the execution of the TSA a balance of N2.9 trillion has been accumulated from the MDAs. It is however worrisome that despite the laudable commitment of of the current administration to combat corrupt practices, eliminate waste in public finance and ensure adequate fund flow that will be channeled to critical sectors of the economy to facilitate development, some establishments are still left out of the TSA platform,” he said.
Constitution Review: Reps Adopt National Conference Report
Senate Begins Consideration of Cattle Grazing Bill
Senate Directs FG to Move N50 Billion Paid by MTN to TSA
Nigerian Legislators Object to Expatriate Quota
Reps Probe N2.9trn Accrued to TSA
STATE ASSEMBLY
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 2016 11
member of Bayelsa State House of
Assembly, representing Brass AConstituency Israel Sunny-Goli has
publicly advised that the Federal
Government avoid entering into
negotiations with the Niger Delta
Avengers, warning that the views of the
Niger Delta Avengers was not a true
representation of Niger Delta people's
aspirations.
M r . S u n n y - G o l i m a d e t h i s
suggestion in a statement issued in
Bayelsa State Lawmaker Advises FG Shun Negotiation with NDA
The Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad, has drummed support for the extension of i m m u n i t y a g a i n s t c r i m i n a l prosecution being currently enjoyed by the President and Governors to the Senate President and his Deputy, urging that similar protection should be extended to the Speaker, House of Representatives and his Deputy, the Speakers and Deputy Speakers of State Houses of Assembly.
The Speaker made this suggestion in his address at the final session of a retreat on the review of the 1999 constitution organised by the Senate in Lagos.
In his submission, Ahmad noted that presently, two of the three arms of government, heads of the executive and of the judiciary enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution until the end of their tenure, adding that the immunity be either extended to presiding officers for the limited period of their tenure to ensure
stability and provide opportunity for the affected officers to concentrate on working for the progress of their respective houses and states.
Ahmad also called for the extension of the rigorous procedure appl icable to the process o f impeaching the president and governors to the presiding officers of legislative houses in the country.
In another development, the Assembly has in the past one year passed six bills, with three other bills are at various stages of consideration, especially the first private bill titled, “ V i o l e n c e A g a i n s t P e r s o n s (Prohibiton) Bill 2015”.
The Speaker of the House, Dr Ali Ahmad made this known while presiding over the sitting to mark the commencement of another legislative year. During the first year in office, the House reportedly passed 43 motions and 23 reports arising from Matters of General Public Importance and various petitions from the public.
he Rivers State House of TAssembly has approved the
request by the State Governor,
Nyesom Wike, to access N14.16bn
Federal Government Budget Support
Facility.
The request by the Governor was
unanimously approved by 14
lawmakers at a recent plenary.
Wike who had written a letter to
the House through the Speaker,
Dabotoru Dima, explained that the
a p p r o v a l w o u l d e n a b l e h i s
administration to sustain the
payment of salaries to civil servants
and pensioners. The governor had
sa id in the l e t ter that h i s
administration had not accessed the
N10bn earlier approved by the House
as bailout.
He, however, added that the
N14.16bn was to be collected in three
tranches with nine per cent one year
moratorium, if approved by the state
legislature. The letter indicated that
the loan would be secured on future
dividends or funds accruing to the
state from the Federal Government
Rivers Assembly Approves N14.5b FG Loan Facility
he Rivers State House of Assembly Thas held a public hearing on
government's proposal to convert the
Rivers State College of Arts and Science
to Port Harcourt Polytechnic through a
Bill entitled “Port Harcourt Polytechnic
Bill, 2016”.
The Bill seeks for a law for the
conversion of RivCAS to Port Harcourt
Polytechnic, and to transfer the staff
and properties of the former and other
matters incidental thereto to the
Polytechnic.
Leader of the State House of
Assembly, who is also at the weekend
invited stakeholders to the public
hearing to ensure a qualitative debate
and positive outcome.
In a statement in Port Harcourt, the
Chairman of the House Committee on
Education, Hon. Martins Chike-
Amaewhule advised interested
stakeholders to obtain copies and
submit memoranda to House.
Following the development, the
RIVCAS Students Union Government
and the leadership of National Union of
Rivers State Students (NURSS) have in
separate reactions, hailed the efforts of
the state government to expand the
frontiers of higher education in the
state.
Similarly, the Rivers State chapter
of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has
supported the decision of the Rivers
State Government. In a statement by
the state TUC Chairman, Comrade
Hyginus Chika Onuegbu, noted: “It is
important to state that there is nothing
absolutely wrong with the proposed the
conversion of the Rivers State College of
Arts and Science to Port Harcourt
Polytechnic or even a full-fledged
university. Consequently, we support
the move by the Rivers State
Government and the Rivers State House
of Assembly to do so.”
Rivers Assembly holds hearing on PH Polytechnic
Kwara Speaker Canvasses Immunity, Passes Six Bills
Yenagoa, the Baylesa State capital. He
cautioned that negotiating the fate of
the people with such a fringe group was
a terrible misnomer capable of putting
the region in the rat race for destructive
influence.
He regretted the resurgence of
militancy in the Niger Delta but worry
over some of the approaches being
pursued by officials of the Federal
Government in the search for solution to
the problem.
The lawmaker added: “Niger Delta
Avengers do not represent the people of
the Niger Delta and their demands and
procedure do not embody the popular
aspirations and sentiments in the
region. The group is, to all intents and
purposes, a gang of foot soldiers
assembled by some politicians and
persons on the wrong side of the law as a
bargaining chip to try to escape
punishment or get a soft-landing.
“Aany negotiation with Niger Delta
Avengers would encourage more fringe
groups to arise with similarly warped
demands that the government would
never be able to meet.”
PHOTOSPEAK
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 201612
Group photograph of participants at One-day Focal Group Discussion on Strengthening Accountability in the Nigeria Defence Sector, organised by CISLAC in Ilorin, Kwara State Capital.
L-R: Director of Political
Affairs, Peace and Security,
ECOWAS, Dr. Remi Ajibewa;
Vice President, ECOWAS,
Mr. Edward D. Singhatey;
and Executive Director,
CISLAC, Mr. Auwal Ibrahim
Musa (Rafsanjani), during
a courtesy visit by latter to
ECOWAS Commission,
recently.
Group photograph of participants at Stakeholders Consultative Forum on the Petroleum Industry Bill
(PIB) organised by CISLAC in Abuja.
INTERVIEW
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 2016 13
The budget controversy is over; do you think this
government is committed to actualizing its
contents?
We are all aware of the undemocratic efforts by some
unpatriotic citizens to sabotage the 2016 Appropriation
Bill, which led to the unexpected delay in the passage
and presidential assent to the Bill. We must also
remember that the administration, prior to the
concretization of the budget, was operating the 2015
budget inherited from the previous administration.
These, among other things, resulted in delay in the
implementation of the pro-poor projects promised by the
government.
Also, we must remember that budgetary processes
demand both legislative and executive scrutiny and
approval. On this note, there was high expectation from
the two arms, that the budget would historically
validate the administration's pro-poor effort.
However, the budget was greeted with personal
interests that paved way for another era of high cost of
governance at the expense of the nation's development
and well-being of citizens.
When you look at the decisions of government to
increase electricity tariff, VAT and fuel price, do
you think it's really pro-masses?
One thing the Nigerian politicians always fail to take
into account is the existing reality in campaign
promises. Now, the nation is faced with serious economic
and financial challenges. In this case, to save the nation
from irreparable collapse, government would either
resort to borrowing or increase tax on goods and
services. This must be complemented with total
reduction in cost of governance.
However, apart from the fact that the citizens suffer the
other side of tax increase, the existing high cost of
governance would keep endangering judicious
utilization of the revenue generation.
What is your assessment of the National Assembly?
The 8th Assembly has not performed quite
impressively, despite the citizens' hopes and
aspirations. For instance, during the debate on 2016
Appropriation Bill, legislators' personal interest had
superseded the nation's interest and the expectations of
common Nigerians. It was a very unfortunate situation.
It is worrisome that to a large extent, the legislators'
personal interest contributed to the delay in passage of
the budget.
How do you view the frosty relationship between
the Presidency and National Assembly?
It is not uncommon for such situation to occur in any
democracy. We should rather focus attention on the
crux of such situation. That is, is it for personal interest
or national interest?
How then do you think the three arms of
government can work together for development?
They must first of all have national interest at heart.
They must uphold democratic core values and strictly
adhere to fulfilling various promises, commitments and
oath of the office.
Source: Daily Trust Newspapers
National Assembly not Living up to its Billing – RafsanjaniThe Executive Director of the Civil
Society Legislative Advocacy Centre
(CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, in
this interview, says the two chambers
of the National Assembly have a long
way to go because they are not living up
to the expectations of Nigerians.
Excerpts:
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani
GENDER AND MATERNAL HEALTH
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 201614
yo state traditional ruler, His
Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu
Akanmu Olasupo Adetunje Opopularly known as Olubadan of
Ibadan land, Oyo state has assure
that the State's traditional council
will parley Partnership for Advocacy
in Child and Family Health
(PACFaH) to enhance advocacy in
child and family health.
This was made known by the
traditional ruler during a media
dialogue organised by the Federation
of Muslim Women Association in
Nigeria (FOMWAN) under the aegis
of PACFaH in Ibadan, Oyo State
capital recently.
Speaking during the dialogue, he
promised to leverage on the existing
functional platforms like the 11 local
traditional chiefs under the kingdom
to spread advocacy message and
awareness on child and family health
across communities.
He said, “Family planning,
routine immunisation, nutrition and
treatment of childhood killer diseases
remain paramount to the healthy
living and well-being of our people. In
terms of awareness creation and
proper orientation, this Council will
maximally utilise the existing
institution like the traditional chiefs
who have been designated to report to
the Council on health related issues
as it affects their communities.
“This Council will collaborate
with PACFaH to ensure extensive
awareness across the 11 local
councils on the identified issues in
child and family health. We are also
aware that adequate budgetary
allocation to health care remains the
priority of the State Government.”
In her opening address, Hajia
Farida Sada Yusuf, Project Director,
FOMWAN-PACFaH noted that the
2013 Nigeria Demographic Health
Survey (NDHS) reveals that out of
235, 000 annual live-birth in Oyo
state, no fewer than 20, 000 die before
their 5th birthday from pneumonia
and diarrhoea. “The major reason for
this preventable death is poor access
to health care, especially in the rural
areas. This situation can be
effectively addressed through
availability of the recommended
Essential Drug (Amoxicillin DT and
Zn Lo-ORS) for treatment of
childhood killer diseases (pneumonia
and diarrhoea),”she explained.
On routine immunization, the
Director observed that Oyo state as
one o f the p i lot s tates for
Traditional Council Pledges Support for Child and Family Health
By Chioma Kanu
Oba Adetunje speaking during the Dialogue
Yusuf addressing the Council during the Dialogue
GENDER AND MATERNAL HEALTH
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 2016 15
immunisation has attained 73.8%,
calling for adequate and sustainable
financial support for routine
immunisation to avert resurge of
polio virus.
She further lamented that
nutrition has been a major issue for
mothers and children, urging the
traditional rulers and religious
leaders on prompt advocacy to the
policy makers for the implementation
of National Strategic Plan of Action
on Nutrition (NSPAN) to combat
maternal and child nutrition burden
in the state.
Giving Oyo State's specific
accounts of family planning, Aanu
Rotimi, Program Officer, Health
Reform Foundation of Nigeria
(HERFON) stated that the Oyo State
Government has the primary
responsibility to ensure family
p l a n n i n g c o m m o d i t i e s a n d
consumables, when procured by the
Federal Government are transported
to the facilities and administered by
the right health personnel. She noted
that the State has 16% unmet need
for contraceptive, and zero budget
line for family planning. Rotimi
urged enhanced advocacy by
traditional and religious institutions
to the State's policy makers for the
adoption and implementation of
costed National Family Planning
Blue Print to promote availability,
accessibility to and affordability of
family planning commodities in the
State.
She explained that although Oyo
state has made considerable progress
in health, socio-cultural and
economic development, however,
some key indicators have raised
alarm over increased in maternal
mortality in the state from 135 per
100, 000 live births to 143 per 100,
000 in 2010. She observed huge gaps
in the demand and supply of Family
Planning services, which would have
h e l p e d r e d u c i n g u n p l a n n e d
pregnancies and the risks associated
with unsafe abortions, thereby
reducing maternal mortality in the
state.
O n h i s o w n p a r t , H o n .
Makanjuola Akinola, President of
Muslim Yoruba in Edo, Delta and
Oyo states represented by Alhaji
Kamaldeen Aderibigbe recounted
that adequate child and family
health in the state has been
confronted by various challenges like
the national financial downturn
result ing in poor budgetary
allocation to health, widespread
socio-culture and religious practices,
ignorance, and lack of awareness.
Also, during the dialogue,
Reverend Benjamin Akanmu,
President, Christian Association of
Nigeria (CAN), Oyo State Chapter,
advised that exclusive breastfeeding
and adequate nutrition are essential
to the proper physical and mental
development of the children,
assuring that appropriate effort will
be made to sensitise the Christian
communities in the State on
importance of maternal and child
nutrition. “We will not relax. We will
keep on sensitising the Christian
communities on the impacts of
maternal and child nutrition.”
Similarly, the Chief Imam of
Ibadan, Sheik Abdul Ganiyu
Abubakar opined that adequate
attention should be accorded women
and children by all Muslim
communities for their important role
in the development of any society,
adding that breastfeeding and
adequate nutrition status are crucial
to the effective mental and physical
development of the children.
…exclusive breastfeeding and adequate
nutrition are essential to the proper
physical and mental development
of the children…
Aderibigbe addressing the audience
PEACE BUILDING
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 201616
When crimes of high magnitude or
any at all, are allowed to go
unpunished for any reason, we “risk descending into a state of
lawlessness and anarchy where
anyone can assume the role of judge,
jury and executioner”, National Civil
Society Consultative Forum on Peace
and Security has said.
The Forum made this known in a
Declaration of Action issued after an
extra ordinary General Meeting with
specific focus on the “blasphemy
killing in Kano and the militancy
activities in the Niger Delta region”.
It said: “The rule of law must
prevail. We urge all security agencies
to ensure that they carry out a
thorough investigation into the events
that led to her untimely death and
ensure that the perpetrators of this
crime are brought to face the full
wrath of the law.
“The rule of law must prevail. We
urge all security agencies to ensure
that they carry out a thorough
investigation into the events that led
to her untimely death and ensure that
the perpetrators of this crime are
brought to face the full wrath of the
law.”
The Forum expressed deep
concern over a new militant group,
Niger Delta Avengers, NDA which has
taken the region by surprise when it
announced its formation on February
3. “It launched a website and social
media page, which it uses to publish
statements of its activities, including
its February 10 blow up of the Bonny
Soku Gas Line which carries natural
gas to the Nigeria Liquified Natural
Gas plant and an independent power
plant at Gbaran. This was followed by
a major destabilizing attack on the
Forcados 48-inch export pipeline at
the Forcados export terminal.
“Note that the attacks, among
others, have no doubt had a
devastating effect on the country's oil
revenue projection in the 2016 budget.
Besides, the activities and statements
of the group have led to restiveness in
the region, a signpost of a return to the
pre- 2009 militancy level.
“Curiously, no known face or name
has claimed the leadership of the NDA
apart from one Col. Mudoch Agbinibo
who has been signing press releases
on behalf of the group. Security agents
however, believe that Mudoch is a
pseudo name and faceless like the
notorious Jomo Gbomo of the
Movement for the Emancipation of
Niger Delta, MEND, fame,” it
lamented.
The Forum noted that the near
collapse of social values, failure of
leadership at all level, and neglect of
the youth are endemic problems
confronting the country, adding that
the vices have increased the spate of
unemployment, abject poverty,
illiteracy, frustrations and the
resurgence of many militant and
terrorist groups in different parts of
the country.
It promised to engage advocacy for
a holistic approach to address the
challenges threatening peace and
stability in Niger Delta. “Such an
approach should povide for a more
sustainable protocol for managing the
expectations of the region vis a vis the
exploitation of the vital resources
there.
“Some observers have already
likened Niger Delta Avengers to Boko
Haram. In some respects that is true
but in other respects, Niger Delta
agitation can at least be tackled in a
rational manner. For instance, the
Avengers are demanding that the
2 0 1 4 N a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e ' s
recommendations as pertains to the
region should be revisited. One of
them is the increase of the derivation
fund from 13% to 17%. Another
recommendation calls for the setting
up of a special intervention fund for
the region,” the Forum explained.
Understanding that other parts of
the country might be unhappy with
the Conference's recommendations,
the Forum urged government to table
issues before the National Assembly
and re lated inst i tut ions for
exhaustive deliberation to draw
suitable solution.
It further assured to effectively
mobilize CSOs, key actors and the
media in building cooperation for
dialogue as a panacea for sustainable
peace and development.
The meeting was attended by the
Chief of Army Staff represented by
the Commander of Operation Pulo
Shield, Bayelsa, Niger Delta
Development Commission, Ministry
of Niger Delta, National Security and
Civil Defence Corps, Ministry of
Budget and National Planning,
National Human Rights Commission,
Peace Corp of Nigeria, Women and
Y o u t h g r o u p s , D i p l o m a t i c
C o m m u n i t y , F a i t h B a s e d
Organizat ions , NGOs, Media
Practitioners as well as experts in the
peace and security sector.
NDA: Forum Wants Holistic Approach to end Crisis By Salaudeen Hashim
COMMUNIQUE
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 2016 17
PURPOSE
he Declaration on Parliamentary Openness is a
call to national parliaments, and sub-national Tand transnational legislative bodies, by civil
society parliamentary monitoring organizations
(PMOs) for an increased commitment to openness and
to citizen engagement in parliamentary work. PMOs
are increasingly recognized for the important role they
play in making parliamentary information more
accessible to citizens, strengthening the capacity of
citizens to participate in parliamentary processes, and
improving parliamentary accountability. While PMOs
have a strong interest in advocating for greater access
to government and parliamentary information, they also
recognize the need for increased collaborative
dialogue with the world's parliaments on issues of
parliamentary reform. The Declaration is intended not
only as a call to action, but also as a basis for dialogue
between parliaments and PMOs to advance
government and parliamentary openness, and to
ensure that this openness leads to greater citizen
engagement, more responsive representative
institutions and, ultimately, a more democratic society.
PREAMBLE
WHEREAS inclusive, accountable, accessible and
responsive parliaments and legislative institutions are
the key to democratization because of their
constitutional responsibilities to enact legislation,
represent citizens and oversee executive policy
implementation and performance, and reflect citizen
interests;
WHEREAS parliamentary openness enables citizens
to be informed about the work of parliament, empowers
citizens to engage in the legislative process, allows
citizens to hold parliamentarians to account and
ensures that citizens' interests are represented;
WHEREAS the rights of citizens to participate in
governance and access parliamentary information are
established in international human rights frameworks
and in international benchmarks and norms for
democratic parliaments adopted by the international
parliamentary community; and whereas international
institutions have laid a strong foundation for openness
online;
WHEREAS the onset of the digital era has altered
fundamentally the context for public usage of
parliamentary information and the expectations of
citizens for good governance, and whereas emerging
technology is empowering analysis and reuse of
parliamentary information with enormous promise to
build shared knowledge and inform representative
democracy.
WHEREAS variations in traditions, experience,
resources and context may influence the approach
parliament takes to improving openness, they do not
undermine the importance of improving parliamentary
openness and transparency;
WHEREAS the need for parliamentary openness is
complemented by the need for broader governmental
openness and whereas many governments are
collaborating with civil society through such initiatives
as the Open Government Partnership to develop
monitorable commitments to achieve more
transparent, effective and accountable governments;
WHEREAS a growing number of civil society
parliamentary monitoring and support organizations
seek to play a meaningful and collaborative role in
strengthening the democratic accountability of
parliaments and require access to parliamentary
information to play this role effectively, and whereas
there are numerous precedents for strong
collaboration between parliaments and parliamentary
monitoring organizations (PMOs) that can inform
efforts for greater openness of parliamentary
information;
THEREFORE, representatives of the PMO community
have developed and pledge to advance the following
principles of parliamentary openness.
PROMOTING A CULTURE OF OPENNESS
1. R e c o g n i z i n g P u b l i c O w n e r s h i p o f
Parliamentary Information
Parliamentary information belongs to the public;
citizens should be allowed to reuse and republish
parliamentary information, in whole or in part. Any
exceptions or restrictions to this principle shall be
narrowly defined by law.
DECLARATION ON PARLIAMENTARY OPENNESS
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 201618
COMMUNIQUE
2. Advancing a Culture of Openness through
Legislation
Parliament has a duty to enact legislation, as well
as internal rules of procedure and codes of
conduct, that foster an enabling environment
guaranteeing the public's right to government and
parliamentary information, promoting a culture of
open government, providing for transparency of
political finance, safeguards freedoms of
expression and assembly, and ensuring
engagement by civil society and citizens in the
legislative process.
3. Protecting a Culture of Openness through
Oversight
In fulfilling its oversight function, parliament shall
guarantee that laws ensuring government
openness are implemented effectively, that the
government acts in a fully transparent manner,
and that government also works to promote a
culture of openness.
4. Promoting Civic Education
Parliament has a responsibility to actively promote
civic education of the public, particularly youth, by
promoting understanding of parliament's rules
and procedures, parliament's work, and the role of
parliament and its members.
5. Engaging Citizens and Civil Society
Parliament has a duty to actively engage citizens
and civil society, without discrimination, in
parliamentary processes and decision-making in
order to effectively represent citizen interests and
to give effect to the right of citizens to petition their
government.
6. Protecting an Independent Civil Society
Parliament has a duty to support measures to
ensure that civil society organizations are able to
operate freely and without restriction.
7. Enabling Effective Parliamentary Monitoring
Parliament shall recognize the right and duty of
civil society, media, and the general public to
monitor parliament and parliamentarians.
Parliament shall engage in consultations with the
general public and civil society organizations that
monitor parliament to encourage effective
monitoring and reduce barriers in accessing
parliamentary information.
8. Sharing Good Practice
Parliament shall actively participate in
international and regional exchanges of good
practice with other parliaments and with civil
society organizations to increase the openness
and transparency of parliamentary information,
improve the use o f in format ion and
communication technologies, and strengthen
adherence to democratic principles.
9. Ensuring Legal Recourse
Parliament shall enact legislation to ensure that
citizens have effective access to legal or judicial
recourse in instances where citizens' access to
government or parliamentary information is in
dispute.
10. Disseminating Complete Information
Parliamentary information available to the public
shall be as complete as possible, reflecting the
entirety of parliamentary action, subject only to
narrowly and precisely defined exceptions.
11. Providing Timely Information
Parliamentary information shall be provided to the
public in a timely manner. As a general rule,
information shall be provided in real time. To the
extent that doing so is impossible, parliamentary
information shall be released publicly as quickly
as it is available internally.
12. Ensuring Accurate Information
Parliament shall ensure a process to retain
authoritative records and guarantee that the
information it releases to the public is accurate.
MAKING PARLIAMENTARY INFORMATION
TRANSPARENT
13. Adopting Policies on Parliamentary
Transparency
Parliament shall adopt policies that ensure the
proactive dissemination of parliamentary
information, including policies regarding the
formats in which this information will be published.
Parliamentary transparency policies shall be
publicly available and shall specify terms for their
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 2016 19
COMMUNIQUE
periodic review to take advantage of
technological innovations and evolving good
practices. Where parliament may not have the
immediate capacity to publish comprehensive
parliamentary information, parliament should
develop partnerships with civil society to ensure
broad public access to parliamentary information.
14. Providing Information on Parliament's Roles
and Functions
Parliament shall make available information
about its constitutional role, structure, functions,
internal rules, administrative procedures and
workflow, as well as the same information for its
committees.
15. Providing Information on Members of
Parliament
Parliament shall provide sufficient and regularly
updated information for citizens to understand a
member's credentials, party affiliation, electoral
mandate, roles in parliament, attendance,
identities of personal staff, and any other
information members wish to divulge about
themselves and their credentials. Working
contact information for the parliamentary and
constituency offices of members shall also be
available to the public.
16. Providing Information on Parliamentary Staff
and Administration
Parliament shall make available information
about its administrative functioning and the
structure of parliamentary staff that manage and
administer parliamentary processes. Contact
information for staff responsible for providing
information to the public should be publicly
available.
17. I n f o r m i n g C i t i z e n s r e g a r d i n g t h e
Parliamentary Agenda
Documentation relating to the scheduling of
parliamentary business shall be provided to the
public, including the session calendar,
information regarding scheduled votes, the order
of business and the schedule of committee
hearings. Except in rare instances involving
urgent legislation, parliament shall provide
sufficient advance notice to allow the public and
civil society to provide input to members
regarding items under consideration.
18. Engaging Citizens on Draft Legislation
Draft legislation shall be made public and
published upon its introduction. Recognizing the
need for citizens to be fully informed about and
provide input into items under consideration,
parliament shall seek to provide public access to
preparatory analysis and background information
to encourage broad understanding of policy
discussions about the proposed legislation.
19. Pub l ish ing Records o f Commi t tee
Proceedings
Reports of committee proceedings, including
documents created and received, testimony of
witnesses at public hearings, transcripts, and
records of committee actions, shall promptly be
made public.
20. Recording Parliamentary Votes
To ensure members' accountability to their
constituents for their voting behavior, parliament
shall minimize the use of voice voting in plenary
and shall use roll call or electronic voting in most
cases, maintaining and making available to the
public a record of the voting behavior of individual
members in plenary and in committees. Similarly,
parliament shall minimize the use of proxy voting
and ensure that it does not undermine norms of
transparency and democratic accountability.
21. Publishing Records of Plenary Proceedings
Parliament shall create, maintain and publish
readily accessible records of its plenary
proceedings, preferably in the form of audio or
video recordings, hosted online in a permanent
location, as well as in the form of a written
transcript or Hansard.
22. Publishing Reports Created by or Provided to
Parliament
All reports created by parliament or that are
requested or required to be submitted to
parliament, its offices, or committees, shall be
made public in their entirety, except in narrowly
defined circumstances identified by law.
23. Providing Information on the Budget and
Expenditures
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 201620
Parliament has a responsibility to make public
comprehens ive , de ta i led , and eas i l y
understandable information about the national
budget and public expenditures, including past,
current , and projected revenues and
expenditures. Similarly, parliament has a duty to
publish information regarding the parliament's
own budget, including information about its own
budget execution and bids and contracts. This
information shall be made public in its entirety,
using a consistent taxonomy, along with plain
language summaries, explanations or reports that
help promote citizen understanding.
24. Disclosing Assets and Ensuring the Integrity
of Members
Parliament shall make available sufficient
information to allow citizens to make informed
judgments regarding the integrity and probity of
individual members, including information on
members' asset disclosures, their parliamentary
expenses, and their non-parliamentary income,
including interest, dividends, lease payments or
other in-kind benefits.
25. Disclosing Information on Unethical Conduct
and Potential Conflicts of Interest
Parliament shall enact clearly defined rules to
ensure disclosure of information necessary to
protect against actual or perceived conflicts of
interest and ethical violations, including relevant
information about members' interactions with
lobbyists and pressure groups. Parliament shall
also make public information on the final results of
any judicial or parliamentary investigations into
charges of unethical behavior, conflicts of interest
or corruption.
26. Providing Access to Historical Information
Parliamentary information for prior sessions shall
be digitized and made available to citizens in
perpetuity for reuse free of legal restrictions or
fees. To the extent a parliament cannot digitize
and make available its own information, it shall
work with outside organizations to facilitate public
dissemination of parliamentary information
without restriction. Parliament shall provide the
public access to a parliamentary library in order to
allow members and the public the ability to access
historical parliamentary information.
EASING ACCESS TO PARLIAMENTARY
INFORMATION
27. Providing Multiple Channels for Accessing
Information
Parliament shall provide access to information
about its work through multiple channels;
including first-person observation, print media,
radio and television broadcasts, and Internet and
mobile device technology.
28. Ensuring Physical Access
Parliament and its plenary sessions shall be
physically accessible and open to all citizens,
subject only to demonstrable public safety and
space limitations.
29. Guaranteeing Access by the Media
Parliament shall ensure that the media and
independent observers are given full access to
parliamentary proceedings; the criteria and
process for providing media access shall be
clearly defined and publicly available.
30. Providing Live and On-Demand Broadcasts
and Streaming
Efforts shall be made to provide citizens with real-
time and on-demand archival access to
parliamentary proceedings through radio,
television and the Internet.
31. Facilitating Access throughout the Country
To the extent possible, access to parliamentary
information shall not be restricted by geographic
barriers. Although the use of parliamentary
websites facilitates access to parliamentary
information without geographic restriction, in
countries where Internet access and usage is
limited, parliament shall seek other means of
ensuring public access to parliamentary
information throughout the country.
32. Using Plain Language
Parliament shall ensure that legal or technical
language does not serve as a barrier to citizens
seeking to access parliamentary information.
While recognizing the necessity of using precise
language in writing laws, parliament has a duty to
develop plain language summaries and similar
tools to make parliamentary information readily
available and understandable to members and
citizens with diverse backgrounds and expertise.
COMMUNIQUE
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 2016 21
33. Using Multiple National or Working
Languages
Where the constitution or parliamentary rules
provide for the use of multiple national or working
languages in parliament, parliament shall make
every reasonable effort to provide for the
simultaneous interpretation of proceedings and
rapid translation of the parliamentary record.
34. Granting Free Access
Parliamentary information shall be available to
citizens for unrestricted access, reuse and
sharing free of charge.
ENABLING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION OF
PARLIAMENTARY INFORMATION
35. Providing Information in Open and
Structured Formats
Parliamentary information shall be compiled and
released in an open and structured format, such
as structured XML, that can be read and
processed by computers, so that parliamentary
information can be easily reused and analyzed by
citizens, civil society, the private sector and
government.
36. Ensuring Technological Usability
Parliament shall ensure technological usability of
parliamentary information by providing clear
instructions for the use of any online databases or
tools that enable citizens to retrieve parliamentary
information from the parliamentary website. To
the extent parliament provides a user interface, it
shall use best practices to improve its usability.
37. Protecting Citizen Privacy
Parliamentary websites shall have a clear and
concise privacy policy to let citizens know how
their personal information is being used.
Parliament shall not employ membership or
registration requirements that restrict public
access to information on parliamentary websites
or permit the tracking of personally identifiable
information without explicit consent.
38. Using Non-Proprietary Formats and Open-
Source Software
Parliament shall give preference to the release of
digital information in non-proprietary and open
formats, and the use of free and open-source
software applications.
39. Allowing Downloadability for Reuse
Parliamentary information shall be easily
downloadable, in bulk and in well-documented
formats to allow for easy reuse of the information.
40. Maintaining Parliamentary Websites
Even in countries with limited Internet usage, the
maintenance and regular updating of a
comprehensive parliamentary website is a vital
aspect of parliamentary openness in the modern,
interconnected world. Parliament shall ensure
that parliamentary information is available in
electronic format and shall regard online
dissemination as an essential means of
communication.
41. Using Easy and Stable Search Mechanisms
Parliament shall make it as easy as possible for
citizens to quickly find desired parliamentary
information by creating databases enabling both
simple and complex searches through the use of
appropriate metadata. Information shall be
available in a location that remains constant over
time, for instance, on a webpage with a persistent
URL.
42. Linking Related Information
Parliament shall seek to improve the ability of
citizens to find relevant parliamentary information
by linking parliamentary information to other
related information, for example, by linking
references in a bill history to earlier versions of the
legislation, to relevant committee reports, to
expert testimony, to sponsored amendments and
to the portions of the Hansard that contain the
record of parliamentary debate on the relevant
piece of legislation.
43. Enabling Use of Alert Services
Where possible, parliament shall provide citizens
the ability to subscribe to services to alert them to
certain categories of parliamentary actions
through the use of email, SMS text messaging, or
other technologies.
44. Facilitating Two-Way Communication
Parliament shall endeavor to use interactive
technology tools to foster the ability of citizens to
provide meaningful input on legislation and
parliamentary activity and to facil i tate
communication with members or parliamentary
staff.
COMMUNIQUE
REPORT
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 201622
h e A f r i c a n U n i o n
Commission in collaboration Tw i t h t h e F o o d a n d
Agriculture Organization has
launched a project on Sustainable
Agricultural Mechanization in
Africa.
This project is in line with the AU's Africa Agenda 2063; the 2014 AU Malabo Dec larat ion on A g r i c u l t u r a l G r o w t h a n d Transformation and the FAO's new Strategic Framework of making agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable and also in promoting agricultural and rural development in Africa.
The main objective of the project is to contribute to the intensification o f susta inable agr i cu l tura l mechanization programmes in Africa by engaging stakeholders to take stock of the lessons and experiences derived over the years and most importantly, to discuss the need to support the integration of national and regional policies and strategies.
Officially opening the meeting, H.E Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, AUC Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture represented by Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture acting Director, Dr. Janet Edeme, noted that, “the project will contribute to the development of an African strategy for sustainable agricultural mechanization within the context of the Malabo Declaration. It will e n h a n c e t h e c a p a c i t y o f g o v e r n m e n t s t o i n t e g r a t e agricultural mechanization in their policy frameworks. Of significance, it will target women who bear the burden of African agriculture.”
Commissioner Tumusi ime expressed hope that the project w o u l d h e l p c a t a l y z e t h e intensification of sustainable agricultural mechanization in Africa through stocktaking of the l e s s o n s o f e x p e r i e n c e a n d supporting its integration in
national and regional policies and strategies.
Mr. Patrick Kormawa, Sub-regional Coordinator and FAO Representative to the AU and UNECA emphasized that, “the dream to have a hunger-free Africa by 2025 would remain a mirage without mechanization.” He also added that, “African will not feed its people if agricultural value chains do not modernize, enhancing food security and nutrition and creating opportunities for rural youths in agriculture.”
Other speakers during the opening ceremony included; H.E F a t i m a H a r a m A c y l , A U C Commissioner for Trade and Industry, represented by Frank Mugyenyi. Commissioner Acyl emphasized on the need to take a value chain approach to agricultural mechanization.
Lazarous Kapambwe, Special Advisor, Bureau of the AUC Chairperson, highlighted the progress being made in relegating the hand held hoe to the museum, in order to empower farmers , especially women, to use advanced tools for farming; and Dr Adama Cou l iba ly UNECA Country Director, spoke about the need for
AUC and FAO Determined to Promote Agricultural Mechanization agricultural transformation to drive the structural transformation of African economies as well as the i m p o r t a n c e o f t e c h n o l o g y acquisition and transfer in the mechanization process.
Progress is in SightAgricultural mechanization
plays a key role to Africa's ambition to end hunger in the continent by 2025 as stated in the Malabo Declaration of 2014. The need for agricultural mechanization offers the ability to perform operations at the right time to maximize production potential; provides multi-functional machinery not only for crop production but also for postharvest operations, transport and infrastructure improvement.
Most significantly, this has to be built along the entire agricultural value chain, private sector driven, and environmentally compatible system which forms part of the project.
Despite the renewed interest in mechanization in Africa, a large proportion of agriculture is still done using human power, with huge productivity, health, social and economic losses. Africa, south of the Sahara has the lowest land productivity in the world, and agricultural mechanization has either stagnated or regressed in most countries. Africa's average of 13 tractors/100km² of arable land compares unfavourably both with the global average (200/100km2) and with the average for other developing regions such as South Asia (129/100km2).
Mechanization is, however, witnessing resurgence in Africa, especially in African Union Member States. Several countries are also re-engaging in upgrading the level of agricultural mechanization, realizing the potential to address some of the most fundamental farming challenges in a profound and comprehensive manner.
The main objective of the project is to
contribute to the intensification of
sustainable agricultural mechanization
programmes in Africa by engaging stakeholders
to take stock of the lessons and experiences derived over the years.
REPORT
Legislative Digest Vol. 10 No. 6, June, 2016 23
he African Committee of
Experts on the Rights and TWelfare of the Child
(ACERWC) in collaboration with
the Government of the Federal
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
and its partners commemorates the
16th Day of the African Child (DAC)
on the theme "Conflict and crisis in
Africa: Protecting all children's
Rights".
Alongside UN agencies and
international organizations, the
Day is marked with various
activities organized with children,
and aims to shed light on the plight
of children that are subjected to the
consequences of conflicts including
armed conflicts, and crises, as they
are one of the most vulnerable
groups of society.
Chi ldren born today are
generally better off in terms of
security and protection as compared
to children born 26 years ago before
the African Children's Charter was
adopted. However, the continued
challenges that children in conflict
and crisis face – in particular those
that are affected by armed conflict,
subject to interpersonal conflict as
well as violence against children,
children on the move, children from
disadvantaged communities ,
children with disabilities and girls.
The theme emphasizes that fact
that children should not be victims
of violence, and it emphasizes the
role that child protection systems
should play in creating a conducive
environment that promotes an
atmosphere of love happiness and
understanding. It also underscores
that policies, laws and programmes
that are aimed at preventing and
addressing conflict and violence
would be incomplete efforts unless
they place children's best its
interests at their centre.
In part linked to the recently
concluded ACERWC Continental
study on the impact of armed
conflict on children in Africa, the
DAC 2016 theme seeks to elevate
child protection agenda in conflict
and crisis situation on the continent
as well as to guarantee the
protection and preservation of life,
survival and development of
children in Africa.
Over and above the recruitment
and the use of children in armed
conflicts, sexual violence committed
against children during armed
conflicts, as well as the negative
effect of conflict on the right to
education, the right to the highest
attainable standard of health,
f a m i l y e n v i r o n m e n t , a n d
development are critical.
"Every child is free from the
impact of armed conflicts" is a vow
expressed by the Committee in the
Africa's Agenda for Children Rights
to be adopted in the months to come,
while the AU Agenda 2063 aims at a
"Peaceful and Secure Africa whose
development is people-driven,
relying on the potential of African
people, especially its women and
youth, and caring for children". The
DAC 2016 offers an opportune time
to emphasize the urgent need
protect children's rights in time of
peace and more importantly during
conflict situations as 2016 has been
declared by the African Union as the
Year of Human Rights with a
special focus on the rights of
Women.
The devastating effect that
conflict and crisis continue to have
on children in Africa is enormous. In
fact- there is no crisis that is child
rights neutral- ranging from
security crisis, to health crisis such
as Ebola, to financial crisis, and
climate change induced crisis –
often putting the rights to life,
survival and development of
children at great risk. Creating an
Africa fit for children starts with
preventing the preventable, and
giving children's best interests
paramount considerations.
“Conflict and Crisis in Africa: Protecting all Children's Rights”
Children born today are generally better
off in terms of security and protection as
compared to children born 26 years ago
before the African Children's Charter
was adopted.
BILLS UPDATE
BILLS UPDATE (JUNE, 2016) Compiled by CISLAC
S/N BILL NO BILL NAME YEAR STAGE
1. SB 258 Lobbying Regulation Bill 2016 First Reading
2. SB 285 Nigerian Assets Management Agency (Establishment and Regulatory) Bill
2016 First Reading
3. SB 298 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(Alteration Bill)
2016 First Reading
4.
SB 299
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(Alteration Bill)
2016
First Reading
5.
SB 301
Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill
2016
First Reading
6.
SB 270
Nigeria Police Academy (est. etc)Bill
2016
First Reading
7.
SB 277
Pharmacists Council of Nigeria Act CAP P17LFN 2004 (Amendment Bill)
2016
First Reading
8.
SB 289
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport of Nigeria (est. etc) Bill
2016
First Reading
9.
SB 294
Police Act CAP P19 LFN 2004
(Amendment)
Bill
2016
First Reading
10.
SB 295
Maritime University of Nigeria Okerenkoko (est. etc)
2016
First Reading
11.
SB 297
INEC Act 2010(Amendment)Bill
2016
First Reading
12.
HB 107
Federal Audit Service Commission Bill,
2016
First Reading
13.
GB 164
Capital Expenditure Budget Roll Over Bill
2016
First Reading
14.
SB 118
Abduction, Wrongful Restraint and Conferment Bill
2016
First Reading
15.
SB 131
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Act No.6 2007 (Amendment Bill)
2016
First Reading
16.
SB 282
National Hospitals for Women and Children Act (Amendment) Bill
2016
First Reading
17.
HB 120
Anti-
Torture Bill
2016
First Reading
18.
HB 216
Telecommunications and Postal Offences Act CAP T5, LFN 2004 (Amendment )Bill
2016
First Reading
19.
SB 293
National Ranches Commission (est. etc)Bill
2016
First Reading
20.
SB 304
Historic Sites and Preservation Protection Bill
2016
First Reading
21.
HB 333
A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal Capital Territory Directorate of Road Traffic Services and for Other Matters Related therewith
2016
First Hearing