AGENDA FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION OF DR. USMAN BUGAJE

There is a tide in the affairs of men Which, taken at the flood leads on to fortune: Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat And we must take the current when it serves, Or lose our ventures. - William Shakespeare Julius Caesar IV:3 Nigeria is yet again at the dawn of another democratic cycle and like all dawns it holds great promises as well as numerous challenges. Promises, that this time around things will begin to get better, challenges, that it is not yet uhuru. A lot of these apprehensions are the result of decades of military rule during which faith in our civil institutions was subverted, confidence in our collective will as a people eroded, our capabilities and human ingenuity dissipated, or laid to waste, leaving us weak and vulnerable to manipulations. While stuck and standing still, as it were, our peers were busy loosening their chains, standing on their feet and taking greater strides in building their nations. Thus the “Asian Tigers” were able to move from the backwaters to the cutting edge of the high tech society of the 21st century with the fastest growing economy – all in a matter of decades. In the same vein, the Brazilian Defence industry is producing fighter planes and sophisticated military hardware while ours, started at the same time, was until recently, producing furniture. Some of these countries have an income from agriculture three or four times what we generate from oil. Small and poorer countries that purchase electric power from us maintain steady power supply while ours remain erratic. These are the major issues confronting us, but this is not the place to confront them. Luckily for us, we have recovered our freedom and are just beginning to build our civil institutions and with that the confidence in our ability and collective will as a people. We must salute the courage of our heroes who dared the grim consequences and raised their voices; who were not content with silence or privately agonizing, but took the trouble and the risks to organize. In this regard, we must pay tribute to Nigerian workers, the Nigerian press, pressure groups such as the G18, G34 and other civil society organisations. This confidence which enthuses is now pervading the wider society, as demonstrated by the unprecedented voter turn out and enthusiasm in the recent elections. We are clearly beginning to have faith in ourselves, faith in our ability to organize ourselves, faith in the freedom that goes with democracy, faith in our future, and faith in this Nation of great potential. That we are able to have a civilian to civilian transition, with all the imperfections, real and alleged, amidst doubts and apprehensions, is not only a great achievement, but also a great evidence of our maturity and growth. This freedom, this achievement and this maturity and confidence in ourselves must be nurtured and harnessed for the development of this great Nation. The National Assembly is the best place to do this, not only because it is the largest and most balanced representation of the Nation under any one roof, but also because it checks and complements the Executive and Judicial arms of governments. The National Assembly holds the key to the development of this nation not only because of its critical role in resource allocation but also because it makes the laws that govern the Nation. It is in appreciation of this critical role of the National Assembly that I am offering myself for the Speakership of the House of Representatives, so that together with my colleagues we can help take Nigeria to the Promised Land. I am offering myself, with humility and a great sense of responsibility. I have all my life been concerned about the plight of our people and the future of this country as my records of public service, my academic career as well as non-academic publications have shown. I therefore feel a strong sense of commitment to seize this opportunity to work with this team of Honourable men and women to give this country the sense of commitment and the purposeful direction it deserves. If given the opportunity to serve as Speaker of the House of Representatives, the following are some of the areas I wish to give particular attention to: 1.     Promoting the Independence and Effectiveness of the Legislature. The National Assembly discharges a check and balance function between it and the Executive as well as the Judicial arm of government. The public interest is better served in this manner and it gets the priority it deserves. In addition the electorate gets value for money. For the Assembly to play this role effectively, it must maintain a substantial measure of independence. I will endeavour to safeguard this independence and urge members to be diligent, efficient and thorough in the discharge of their responsibility. For the avoidance of doubt, this can be achieved without a situation of perpetual stand-off between the Legislature and the Executive. We have, in performing this duty, to be bold and humble enough to learn from past mistakes and learn to stand firm when we must and to compromise when the situation demands. Let us turn a new leaf in the Executive/Legislative relationship. It is instructive to note that out of 500 draft bills, only about a dozen or so got passed in the last four years. There is so much unfinished business, that we do not have the luxury of time to indulge in personality clashes while the whole nation waits. We must also realize that the legislature is not only there to check and balance the Executive alone but to complement it. We must all be lucky that the Party leadership, this time, has undertaken to coordinate the extensive consultation that pre-empts conflict and facilitates harmony while each arm performs its constitutional function and role. 2. Resource Allocation and Our Constituencies The essence of representation is to ensure that resource allocation has taken full cognisance of the priorities of our various constituencies. This is not the place for details. The Party, also, has promised to facilitate in this respect. We shall device an effective means of ensuring that this is done. We shall not leave things to chance; we shall set up an appropriate committee and work closely with the Executive to ensure that those who have elected us to represent them are the major beneficiaries of our work. 3. Prudence and Efficiency Resources by their nature are limited, and they will continue to be. There are competing demands, especially in a country like ours which has been so thoroughly abused in the past. We must remember this situation was created largely by the pilferage and wastage that characterized previous regimes. We must take steps to stop this pilferage and wastage. We shall take every step to ensure prudence and efficiency in the management of the resources we shall be entrusted with, so that our people will make the maximum benefits. 4. Building and Improving on the Internal Processes of the House In the last four years, the House has sought to create its own rules, ways and means of achieving its goals. However, four years are not enough for a parliament to achieve a comprehensive set ways of doing things. Together with my colleagues, I will seek appropriate ways of achieving the best results and goals in the manner that we work. If you place your trust in me, continuous consultation will mark my tenure as Speaker of the House. Accordingly, it will be my objective to work with all House members to define and sharpen the effectiveness of the following methods of work in the House, namely: (i)    House Committees: to ensure that Committees are set up with specific goals in mind, and with adequate resources and sufficient independence to effectively operate and carry out defined functions. Members will play an active role in the composition of House Committees, particularly, by using their skills to promote the public cause; (ii)  Public Hearings: to ensure that the system of public hearings on matters of national interest and concern, is supported and made to be more effective and productive. The Committees of the House will be empowered in this regard. The Speaker may, in addition, use the system of public hearings as a tool for promoting public involvement and participation in matters of the House, but with the active involvement and participation of members of the Committees concerned; (iii)            Parliamentary Networking: to encourage working visits, tours and networking between House members and legislatures in other parts of the world. Given that more than 80% of members-elect are new, it will be important that they benefit from such networking because of the benefit of learning and sharing information and experience that this will bring; and (iv) In addition: I will encourage our continued membership and participation of the House in the programmes and activities of International and Regional parliamentary institutions and other bodies that will help to enhance our work. 5. Encourage Meaningful and legitimate interaction with the Non-Government sector including NGO’s, Business and Media There are indications that there is need for more intensive interaction and linkages between the Legislature and non-governmental actors. It will be my priority to encourage these interactions as a necessary tool for achieving greater results and building public trust, confidence and appreciation of the work of the House. 6. Legislature and the Party In contemporary democratic arrangements the Party is supreme. Members will maintain a close and constant consultation with the Party and the legislature. The Party provides both a bridge and a buffer that links and regulates relationship between the Executive and the Legislature. We shall welcome and cooperate with the Party, in this respect, for this will provide us with a conflict free tenure, during which our energies and resources will be concentrated on giving our respective constituencies and our great country, the leadership they deserve. 7. Welfare of Members For members to be focused and efficient they must first be relieved from the burden of routine obstacles of everyday living. For members to give their best we first need to do the best for them. I will therefore endeavour to see that the welfare needs of members are addressed in a way that will take care of their appropriate needs, provide them with facilities to function effectively while observing a level of prudence commensurate with our responsibilities. Like any member who has gone through an election, in this country at this time, I don’t need to be told the pressure on members from their constituency. Along with members, we shall develop creative ways of assuaging these pressures while preserving the integrity of the House and keeping faith with the aspirations of our fellow country men and women. Thank you.