Making Legislative Duties Part-Time

Since the commencement of democratic rule on May 29, 1999, Nigerians have been clamouring for legislative duties to be done part-time. And from the look of things this call appears to be gaining ground.

Of particular importance to those who make the call is the cost of maintaining the lawmakers both at the federal and state levels, especially the unusually huge salaries and allowances the members take home.

It is generally believed that the earnings of the lawmakers do not correspond with their output hence unjustifying the performance of their legislative duties on full-time. The mediocre performance has generated so much controversy that the lawmakers are seen as conduit pipes of our fledgling economy.

I think one way to resolve the controversy is to take advantage of the ongoing constitution review or the proposed national conference to address the issue properly. However, if the truth must be told, the salaries and allowances of our lawmakers and other political aides are indefensible in the visage of our quick declining economic status.

This is more so as there is paucity of funds to upgrade our decayed infrastructure largely due to the various negative economic activities that reside in the country. In the face of this therefore, the current salaries of public office holders particularly our lawmakers is untenable. The poverty level in the country cannot sustain the jumbo pay of the legislators.

Curiously, lawmakers don’t agree that they are a burden to the economy of the country. But does it matter what they think about it? Their position on this issue will not alter the fact neither will they change the views of right-thinking Nigerians. Is it not correct that over a trillion naira has been expended on the National Assembly in the last eight years? What have they done to justify the huge sum?

The flaw in the current constitution gives vent to the monumental wastage on the lawmakers. An aspect of the constitution which should be reviewed is the provision for a bicameral legislature. Even though it is true that some advanced democracies in the world operate two chamber legislature, this ought not to be the reason for adopting it as we don’t operate in the same environment. Our circumstances differ.

Imagine a situation where every state produces three senators and several others elected into the lower house from a bloated number of constituencies. The question is do we need the number of constituencies that we have? Can the nation’s economy sustain this waste?

Legislators, especially federal lawmakers, take advantage of their independence to appropriate huge budgetary allocation to themselves. I don’t believe this institution is as important as the allocation they garner. When a senator is maintained with a prodigious N247 million annually, and members of the House slightly falling below, what proof does one need to believe that lawmakers in the country bleed the nation?

Our brand of democracy is model led after the one in the United States which remains exemplary, but it is nothing to write home about as it is far removed from the American model. While the American version is affordable, the Nigerian form is very expensive to operate.

When both countries are placed on the scale of comparison, the U.S far outweighs Nigeria. The U.S is a far much richer country, more populated and sophisticated, yet the Nigerian lawmaker is about the most remunerated in the world as well as the most corrupt.

Prof. Wole Soyinka once described the legislative arm of government as the apex of corruption in Nigeria. He said the National Assembly was “hydro-pus” corruption.  I agree with him no less. We need a complete transformation of this institution. Why should there be full-time legislation when corruption is right at the top and percolates down?

I am, therefore, of the view that our legislators can legislate for us on part-time basis and remain as efficient as they can possibly be. Legislators should establish businesses for their sustenance and not depend on the legitimate and illegitimate monies they make from lawmaking business.

Arnold Alalibo