The issues that necessitated a joint executive session of the National Assembly must be taken seriously. This is the first time such a session will hold at least since this republic 19 years ago. After several heated hours of deliberations, the two chambers of the National Assembly (NASS) handed President Muhammadu Buhari a marching order to shape up or risk impeachment.
Although the National Assembly did not specifically state that they will impeach or remove the president, but they left no one in doubt as to what may happen if their resolutions are not met. Specifically, the lawmakers threatened to invoke its constitutional powers if the president failed to act on resolutions it reached during a joint session on Tuesday.
Chief among the resolutions is a call on security agencies to redouble their efforts to curtail the sustained killing of Nigerians across the country and protect lives and properties of Nigerians, which according to NASS (and in line with the constitution), is the primary duty of any responsible government. The lawmakers also mandated the president to take immediate steps to contain the growing level of unemployment and poverty, especially now that the oil price has risen to $80 per barrel.
While the lawmakers passed a vote of confidence in the entire leadership of the National Assembly, they reaffirmed their earlier resolution of vote of no confidence in the Inspector General of Police, who they claimed “does nothing other than preside over the killing of innocent Nigerians and consistent framing up of perceived political opponents of the president and outright disregard for constitutional authority, both executive and legislative”.
It was around 12:35pm on Tuesday that both chambers converged. This was after each chamber had met separately. President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, who was a co-presiding officer, read out an 11-point communiqué. Here are the resolutions reached by the National Assembly.
Security agencies must be given marching orders to curtail the sustained killing of Nigerians across the country and protect lives and properties of Nigerians; the systematic harassment and humiliation by the Executive of perceived political opponents, people with contrary opinions, including Legislators and Judiciary by the police and other security agencies, must stop; there must be strict adherence to the rule of law and protection for all citizens by the President and his appointees.
Also, that the President must be held accountable for the actions of his appointees and must be ready to sanction those that carry out any act that will ridicule or endanger our country and democracy; the government should show sincerity in the fight against corruption by not being selective. It should also prosecute current appointees that have cases pending against them; the sanctity of the National Assembly should be protected and preserved by the Federal Government by not interfering in its business and prosecuting those who invaded the Senate to seize the mace.
Furthermore, that National Assembly should liaise with international community, through the IPU, APU, ECOWAS, CPA, Pan-African Parliament, EU, UN, US congress and UK Parliament to secure our democracy; the National Assembly will work closely with civil society organisations, trade unions and NGOs to further deepen and protect our democracy; the President must take immediate steps to contain the growing level of unemployment and poverty in Nigeria, especially now that we have advantage of the oil price having risen to $80 per barrel.
And that both chambers of the National Assembly “hereby pass a vote of confidence on the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the entire leadership of the National Assembly; we reaffirm our earlier resolution of vote of no confidence in the Inspector General of Police, who does nothing other than preside over the killing of innocent Nigerian and consistent framing up of perceived political opponents of the President and outright disregard for constitutional authority, both executive and legislative”.
In its reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the resolutions are a vindication of its stance on the Buhari administration. The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, commended members of the National Assembly “for their patriotism and courage in unanimously standing up for democracy, rule of law, national stability and cohesion at this trying time.”
It stated that Nigerians would recall that it had repeatedly pointed out alleged “violations of our constitution, unprecedented executive highhandedness, abuse of the rights of citizens and the erosion of all known democratic norms under this administration.
We hope that the administration will heed these resolutions and take steps to run an inclusive and unified country. The importance of the National Assembly in a democracy cannot be over emphasized.
Disregarding their input in matters as grave as those above will be counter productive.
