The ongoing 10th National Assembly induction is turning into campaign opportunity for members squabbling for Presiding Officers positions in the Senate and House of Representatives. The induction which holds quadrennially (every four years) provides an opportunity for both returning National Assembly members and newly-elected members to formally meet each other for the first time and learn more about the legislative business. As in the last four induction programmes, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is giving assistance to the National Assembly to hold the induction. The PLAC team led by its Deputy Executive Director, Omolara Akinyeye, has been on ground during the two weeks of the induction, providing hands-on support and engaging with the members elected to the 10th National Assembly.
NASS Induction Turns to Leadership Campaign Ground
The ongoing 10th National Assembly induction is turning into campaign opportunity for members squabbling for Presiding Officers positions in the Senate and House of Representatives. The induction which holds quadrennially (every four years) provides an opportunity for both returning National Assembly members and newly-elected members to formally meet each other for the first time and learn more about the legislative business. As in the last two induction programmes, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is giving assistance to the National Assembly to hold the induction, which is organised in collaboration with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS). The PLAC team led by its Deputy Executive Director, Omolara Akinyeye, has been on ground during the two weeks of the induction, providing hands-on support and engaging with the members elected to the 10th National Assembly.
The induction has seen presentations made by experienced legislative experts, including former legislators and former staff of the National Assembly. Heads of agencies of government have also made presentations during this induction, including heads of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Bureau of Public Procurement, Code of Conduct Bureau, Auditor-general of Federation, military and security chiefs and several others. Further presentations were made by civil society leaders, including the Executive Director of PLAC, Clement Nwankwo, Founder of Centre LSD, Dr. Otivie Ibuzor and heads of women groups – Prof. Joy Ezeilo and Ebere Ifendu.
The opening session of the induction had seen the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representations make key remarks. A goodwill message was also presented by the Acting British High Commissioner, Gill Atkinson at the Opening Day Dinner. The induction, which started on May 7 will be brought to a close, on May 20, after all of the 469 members elected to the 10th National Assembly would have undergone the induction held in two batches.
On the sidelines of induction, there has however been massive campaigns going on for the positions of Presiding Officers. The two-chamber National Assembly will see Senators-elect choose a President and Deputy President of the Senate to lead the Senate chambers. The House of Representatives will also elect from among themselves, a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker. The four Presiding Officers in the two chambers of the National Assembly are expected to lead their respective chambers for the four-year duration of the 10th National Assembly (unless impeached).
…Intrigues Surround NASS leadership Contest
The race for who emerges as Presiding Officers in the 10th Assembly appears to be far more contested this time than in past sessions of the National Assembly. The ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) has the majority of members out of the seven political parties represented in the National Assembly. While the APC has 59 Senators-elect, its closest rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 36 Senators-elect. Other parties with representation in the Senate include : All progressives Grand Alliance (1), Labour Party (8), New Nigeria Peoples Party (2), Social Democratic Party (2) and the Young Progressives Party (1).
With its numerical advantage, the APC is expected to produce the two Presiding Officers of the Senate. The party executives and President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu appear to have indicated their preferences for the offices of President and Deputy President of the Senate, with Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio indicated as the preferred candidate for President of the Senate, and Senator Jibrin Barau (APC; Kano North) as his Deputy. The APC has also indicated that its preference for Speaker and Deputy for the House of Representatives are Hon. Tajudeen Abbas (APC; Kaduna) and Hon. Benjamin Kalu (APC; Abia). The APC’s announcement of its preferred candidates for the Presiding Officers positions has however not doused the campaigns of other aspirants in the party to these positions. At the induction ceremony that is on-going, the aspirants to these positions have been campaigning vigorously, defying the party’s choices.
Opposition to the APC’s choices has come from those who believe that the Legislature should be independent of external forces, even of the ruling party. Opponents of the party interference cite section 50 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, which supports that Presiding Officers shall be elected by members of the National Assembly from among themselves. They insist that the import of the section is to preserve the independence of the Legislature, away from Executive interference and in consonance with the provisions of the Constitution, guaranteeing separation of powers among the different arms of government. Some even insist that APC’s zoning formular marginalises some sections of the country.
Some of the contending aspirants for President of the Senate include former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdul-Aziz Yari; Senate Chief Whip and former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC; Abia); returning Senator Osita Izunaso (APC; Imo). Other names being mentioned mutedly include Senator Sani Musa (APC: Niger), former Edo State Governor and first time Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Ali Ndume. (APC; Borno) and Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP; Bauchi).
In the House of Representatives, contenders include Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Idris Wase (APC; Plateau), Hon. Aliyu Betara (APC; Borno), Hon. Yusuf Gagdi (APC; Plateau), Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji (APC; Zamfara State), and Hon Miriam Onuoha (APC; Imo).
It is unclear how the contest for Presiding Officers will play out on inauguration day on Tuesday, June 13, barely four weeks away. What is clear however, is that elections in both chambers will be contentious. It is also expected that with the election in the Senate likely to come first, its outcome could dramatically change the permutations for the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker in the House of Representatives.
The ongoing 10th National Assembly induction is turning into campaign opportunity for members squabbling for Presiding Officers positions in the Senate and House of Representatives. The induction which holds quadrennially (every four years) provides an opportunity for both returning National Assembly members and newly-elected members to formally meet each other for the first time and learn more about the legislative business. As in the last four induction programmes, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is giving assistance to the National Assembly to hold the induction. The PLAC team led by its Deputy Executive Director, Omolara Akinyeye, has been on ground during the two weeks of the induction, providing hands-on support and engaging with the members elected to the 10th National Assembly.
The induction has seen presentations made by experienced legislative experts, including former legislators and former staff of the National Assembly. Heads of agencies of government have also made presentations during this induction, including heads of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Bureau of Public Procurement, Code of Conduct Bureau, Auditor-general of Federation, military and security chiefs and several others. Further presentations were made by civil society leaders, including the Executive Director of PLAC, Clement Nwankwo, Founder of Centre LSD, Dr. Otivie Ibuzor and heads of women groups – Prof. Joy Ezeilo and Ebere Ifendu.
The opening session of the induction had seen the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representations make key remarks. A goodwill message was also presented by the Acting British High Commissioner, Gill Atkinson at the Opening Day Dinner. The induction, which started on May 7 will be brought to a close, on May 20, after all of the 469 members elected to the 10th National Assembly would have undergone the induction held in two batches.
On the sidelines of induction, there has however been massive campaigns going on for the positions of Presiding Officers. The two-chamber National Assembly will see Senators-elect choose a President and Deputy President of the Senate to lead the Senate chambers. The House of Representatives will also elect from among themselves, a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker. The four Presiding Officers in the two chambers of the National Assembly are expected to lead their respective chambers for the four-year duration of the 10th National Assembly (unless impeached).
…Intrigues Surround NASS leadership Contest
The race for who emerges as Presiding Officers in the 10th Assembly appears to be far more contested this time than in past sessions of the National Assembly. The ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) has the majority of members out of the seven political parties represented in the National Assembly. While the APC has 59 Senators-elect, its closest rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 36 Senators-elect. Other parties with representation in the Senate include : All progressives Grand Alliance (1), Labour Party (8), New Nigeria Peoples Party (2), Social Democratic Party (2) and the Young Progressives Party (1).
With its numerical advantage, the APC is expected to produce the two Presiding Officers of the Senate. The party executives and President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu appear to have indicated their preferences for the offices of President and Deputy President of the Senate, with Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio indicated as the preferred candidate for President of the Senate, and Senator Jibrin Barau (APC; Kano North) as his Deputy. The APC has also indicated that its preference for Speaker and Deputy for the House of Representatives are Hon. Tajudeen Abbas (APC; Kaduna) and Hon. Benjamin Kalu (APC; Abia). The APC’s announcement of its preferred candidates for the Presiding Officers positions has however not doused the campaigns of other aspirants in the party to these positions. At the induction ceremony that is on-going, the aspirants to these positions have been campaigning vigorously, defying the party’s choices.
Opposition to the APC’s choices has come from those who believe that the Legislature should be independent of external forces, even of the ruling party. Opponents of the party interference cite section 50 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, which supports that Presiding Officers shall be elected by members of the National Assembly from among themselves. They insist that the import of the section is to preserve the independence of the Legislature, away from Executive interference and in consonance with the provisions of the Constitution, guaranteeing separation of powers among the different arms of government. Some even insist that APC’s zoning formular marginalises some sections of the country.
Some of the contending aspirants for President of the Senate include former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdul-Aziz Yari; Senate Chief Whip and former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC; Abia); returning Senator Osita Izunaso (APC; Imo). Other names being mentioned mutedly include Senator Sani Musa (APC: Niger), former Edo State Governor and first time Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Ali Ndume. (APC; Borno) and Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP; Bauchi).
In the House of Representatives, contenders include Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Idris Wase (APC; Plateau), Hon. Aliyu Betara (APC; Borno), Hon. Yusuf Gagdi (APC; Plateau), Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji (APC; Zamfara State), and Hon Miriam Onuoha (APC; Imo).
It is unclear how the contest for Presiding Officers will play out on inauguration day on Tuesday, June 13, barely four weeks away. What is clear however, is that elections in both chambers will be contentious. It is also expected that with the election in the Senate likely to come first, its outcome could dramatically change the permutations for the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker in the House of Representatives.