{"id":3238,"date":"2023-05-18T11:34:29","date_gmt":"2023-05-18T11:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/?p=3238"},"modified":"2023-05-18T13:16:16","modified_gmt":"2023-05-18T13:16:16","slug":"nass-induction-turns-to-leadership-campaign-ground","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/nass-induction-turns-to-leadership-campaign-ground\/","title":{"rendered":"NASS Induction Turns to Leadership Campaign Ground"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The ongoing 10th<\/sup> 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<\/sup> National Assembly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

NASS Induction Turns to Leadership\nCampaign Ground<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nongoing 10th<\/sup> National Assembly induction is turning into campaign\nopportunity for members squabbling for Presiding Officers positions in the\nSenate and House of Representatives. The induction which holds quadrennially\n(every four years) provides an opportunity for both returning National Assembly\nmembers and newly-elected members to formally meet each other for the first\ntime and learn more about the legislative business. As in the last two\ninduction programmes, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) with support from\nthe UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is giving\nassistance to the National Assembly to hold the induction, which is organised\nin collaboration with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic\nStudies (NILDS). The PLAC team led by its Deputy Executive Director, Omolara\nAkinyeye, has been on ground during the two weeks of the induction, providing\nhands-on support and engaging with the members elected to the 10th<\/sup>\nNational Assembly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\ninduction has seen presentations made by experienced legislative experts,\nincluding former legislators and former staff of the National Assembly. Heads\nof agencies of government have also made presentations during this induction,\nincluding heads of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Bureau of\nPublic Procurement, Code of Conduct Bureau, Auditor-general of Federation,\nmilitary and security chiefs and several others. Further presentations were\nmade by civil society leaders, including the Executive Director of PLAC,\nClement Nwankwo, Founder of Centre LSD, Dr. Otivie Ibuzor and heads of women\ngroups \u2013 Prof. Joy Ezeilo and Ebere Ifendu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nopening session of the induction had seen the President of the Senate and\nSpeaker of the House of Representations make key remarks. A goodwill message was\nalso presented by the Acting British High Commissioner, Gill Atkinson at the\nOpening Day Dinner. The induction, which started on May 7 will be brought to a\nclose, on May 20, after all of the 469 members elected to the 10th<\/sup>\nNational Assembly would have undergone the induction held in two batches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the\nsidelines of induction, there has however been massive campaigns going on for\nthe positions of Presiding Officers. The two-chamber National Assembly will see\nSenators-elect choose a President and Deputy President of the Senate to lead\nthe Senate chambers. The House of Representatives will also elect from among\nthemselves, a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker. The four Presiding Officers in the\ntwo chambers of the National Assembly are expected to lead their respective\nchambers for the four-year duration of the 10th<\/sup> National Assembly\n(unless impeached).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026Intrigues Surround NASS\nleadership Contest<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nrace for who emerges as Presiding Officers in the 10th<\/sup> Assembly\nappears to be far more contested this time than in past sessions of the\nNational Assembly. The ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) has the\nmajority of members out of the seven political parties represented in the\nNational Assembly. While the APC has 59 Senators-elect, its closest rival, the\nPeoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 36 Senators-elect. Other parties with\nrepresentation in the Senate include : All progressives Grand Alliance (1),\nLabour Party (8), New Nigeria Peoples Party (2), Social Democratic Party (2)\nand the Young Progressives Party (1). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With\nits numerical advantage, the APC is expected to produce the two Presiding\nOfficers of the Senate. The party executives and President-elect, Bola Ahmed\nTinubu appear to have indicated their preferences for the offices of President\nand Deputy President of the Senate, with Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill\nAkpabio indicated as the preferred candidate for President of the Senate, and Senator Jibrin Barau (APC; Kano\nNorth) as his Deputy. The APC has also indicated that its\npreference for Speaker and Deputy for the House of Representatives are Hon.\nTajudeen Abbas (APC; Kaduna) and Hon. Benjamin Kalu (APC; Abia). The APC\u2019s\nannouncement of its preferred candidates for the Presiding Officers positions\nhas however not doused the campaigns of other aspirants in the party to these\npositions. At the induction ceremony that is on-going, the aspirants to these\npositions have been campaigning vigorously, defying the party\u2019s choices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opposition\nto the APC\u2019s choices has come from those who believe that the Legislature\nshould be independent of external forces, even of the ruling party. Opponents\nof the party interference cite section 50 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution,\nwhich supports that Presiding Officers shall be elected by members of the\nNational Assembly from among themselves. They insist that the import of the\nsection is to preserve the independence of the Legislature, away from Executive\ninterference and in consonance with the provisions of the Constitution,\nguaranteeing separation of powers among the different arms of government. Some\neven insist that APC\u2019s zoning formular marginalises some sections of the\ncountry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some\nof the contending aspirants for President of the Senate include former Zamfara\nState Governor, Senator Abdul-Aziz Yari; Senate Chief Whip and former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor\nKalu (APC; Abia); returning Senator Osita Izunaso (APC; Imo). Other names being\nmentioned mutedly include Senator Sani Musa (APC: Niger), former Edo State Governor and first time Senator, Adams\nOshiomhole, Senator Ali Ndume. (APC; Borno) and Senator\nAbdul Ningi (PDP; Bauchi). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the\nHouse of Representatives, contenders include Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon.\nIdris Wase (APC; Plateau), Hon. Aliyu Betara (APC; Borno), Hon. Yusuf Gagdi\n(APC; Plateau), Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji (APC; Zamfara State), and Hon Miriam Onuoha (APC; Imo). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is\nunclear how the contest for Presiding Officers will play out on inauguration\nday on Tuesday,  June 13, barely four weeks\naway. What is clear however,  is that\nelections in both chambers will be contentious. It is also expected that with\nthe election in the Senate likely to come first, its outcome could dramatically\nchange the permutations for the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker in the\nHouse of Representatives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ongoing 10th<\/sup> 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<\/sup> National Assembly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\ninduction has seen presentations made by experienced legislative experts,\nincluding former legislators and former staff of the National Assembly. Heads\nof agencies of government have also made presentations during this induction,\nincluding heads of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Bureau of\nPublic Procurement, Code of Conduct Bureau, Auditor-general of Federation,\nmilitary and security chiefs and several others. Further presentations were\nmade by civil society leaders, including the Executive Director of PLAC,\nClement Nwankwo, Founder of Centre LSD, Dr. Otivie Ibuzor and heads of women\ngroups \u2013 Prof. Joy Ezeilo and Ebere Ifendu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nopening session of the induction had seen the President of the Senate and\nSpeaker of the House of Representations make key remarks. A goodwill message\nwas also presented by the Acting British High Commissioner, Gill Atkinson at\nthe Opening Day Dinner. The induction, which started on May 7 will be brought\nto a close, on May 20, after all of the 469 members elected to the 10th<\/sup>\nNational Assembly would have undergone the induction held in two batches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the\nsidelines of induction, there has however been massive campaigns going on for the\npositions of Presiding Officers. The two-chamber National Assembly will see\nSenators-elect choose a President and Deputy President of the Senate to lead\nthe Senate chambers. The House of Representatives will also elect from among\nthemselves, a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker. The four Presiding Officers in the\ntwo chambers of the National Assembly are expected to lead their respective\nchambers for the four-year duration of the 10th<\/sup> National Assembly (unless\nimpeached).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026Intrigues Surround NASS\nleadership Contest<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nrace for who emerges as Presiding Officers in the 10th<\/sup> Assembly\nappears to be far more contested this time than in past sessions of the\nNational Assembly. The ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) has the\nmajority of members out of the seven political parties represented in the\nNational Assembly. While the APC has 59 Senators-elect, its closest rival, the\nPeoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 36 Senators-elect. Other parties with\nrepresentation in the Senate include : All progressives Grand Alliance (1),\nLabour Party (8), New Nigeria Peoples Party (2), Social Democratic Party (2)\nand the Young Progressives Party (1). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With\nits numerical advantage, the APC is expected to produce the two Presiding\nOfficers of the Senate. The party executives and President-elect, Bola Ahmed\nTinubu appear to have indicated their preferences for the offices of President\nand Deputy President of the Senate, with Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill\nAkpabio indicated as the preferred candidate for President of the Senate, and Senator Jibrin Barau (APC; Kano\nNorth) as his Deputy. The APC has\nalso indicated that its preference for Speaker and Deputy for the House of\nRepresentatives are Hon. Tajudeen Abbas (APC; Kaduna) and Hon. Benjamin Kalu\n(APC; Abia). The APC\u2019s announcement of its preferred candidates for the\nPresiding Officers positions has however not doused the campaigns of other\naspirants in the party to these positions. At the induction ceremony that is\non-going, the aspirants to these positions have been campaigning vigorously,\ndefying the party\u2019s choices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opposition\nto the APC\u2019s choices has come from those who believe that the Legislature\nshould be independent of external forces, even of the ruling party. Opponents\nof the party interference cite section 50 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution,\nwhich supports that Presiding Officers shall be elected by members of the\nNational Assembly from among themselves. They insist that the import of the\nsection is to preserve the independence of the Legislature, away from Executive\ninterference and in consonance with the provisions of the Constitution, guaranteeing\nseparation of powers among the different arms of government. Some even insist\nthat APC\u2019s zoning formular marginalises some sections of the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some\nof the contending aspirants for President of the Senate include former Zamfara\nState Governor, Senator Abdul-Aziz Yari; Senate Chief Whip and former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor\nKalu (APC; Abia); returning Senator Osita Izunaso (APC; Imo). Other names being\nmentioned mutedly include Senator Sani Musa (APC: Niger), former Edo State Governor and first time Senator, Adams\nOshiomhole, Senator Ali Ndume. (APC; Borno) and Senator\nAbdul Ningi (PDP; Bauchi). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the\nHouse of Representatives, contenders include Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon.\nIdris Wase (APC; Plateau), Hon. Aliyu Betara (APC; Borno), Hon. Yusuf Gagdi\n(APC; Plateau), Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji (APC; Zamfara State), and Hon Miriam Onuoha (APC; Imo). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is\nunclear how the contest for Presiding Officers will play out on inauguration\nday on Tuesday,  June 13, barely four\nweeks away. What is clear however,  is\nthat elections in both chambers will be contentious. It is also expected that\nwith the election in the Senate likely to come first, its outcome could\ndramatically change the permutations for the election of Speaker and Deputy\nSpeaker in the House of Representatives. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3252,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3238","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3238","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3238"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3238\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3251,"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3238\/revisions\/3251"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3252"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3238"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3238"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3238"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}