WAKE UP: When lawmaking in Nigeria’s National Assembly becomes “idiotic”, according to Nigerians

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

After much hew and cry from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Federal lawmakers threatening to boycott the presentation of 2019 Appropriation Bill Proposals earlier indicated by the Presidency, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, made true his promise as he laid the documents before the joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday December 19, 2018.

Both chambers at separate plenary sessions Tuesday, regardless of some of the opposition members trying to prove stubborn, adopted respective motions to receive the President at a joint session for him to present the budget proposals.

That happened, it was learned, after the two houses had put the motions to votes which were won as All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers overpowered their opposition colleagues thereby putting the PDP minority leaders leading the chambers in difficult situations to negatively influence the decision to receive the President.

It was however learned that the leadership of NASS had attempted to influence a particular media report to make security presence at the Assembly complex on Tuesday look like another security siege.

Channels TV website had reported that the lawmakers held plenary sessions despite security takeover blocking all entrances of the Assembly.

This, available records have proved, is reckless journalism and “professional misconduct unpardonable” because it was in the news Tuesday that Senate President Bukola Saraki had ordered the police and Department of State Service to provide security for the Upper Chamber and Lower Chamber to hold its respective plenary sessions for the day.

Why, therefore, it was true there was security presence at NASS on Tuesday as reported by Channels TV website, the message that “Lawmakers hold sessions despite security takeover” is recklessly mischievous because it was Senate President Saraki himself that ordered the police and DSS to provide security for the Assembly’s plenaries to complex to hold Tuesday knowing that parliamentary staff on strike had threatened to disallow legislative businesses until they are paid their salaries.

Although the striking workers gave exemption for President Buhari to present his budget on Wednesday without hindrance, the sessions’ success was credited to the security protection ordered by Saraki. It is however not yet clear if Saraki has powers as lawmaker to order security agencies that are under the executive, considering what ran the former DSS DG Lawal Daura aground based on same reason.

The NATION, in its own report on Wednesday, allude to the same order by Saraki when it stated that, “The operatives also took the action following a statement by the assembly management that Nigerians should hold the security agencies responsible, if the President was unable to present the budget proposal as scheduled.”

Those who tried to misrepresent the security presence to look like it was another security siege should make themselves clear to Nigerians, who are at the receiving end of their “reckless and unpatriotic journalism”, when this time the security presence did not catch the ruling ‘minority’ PDP on the leadership of the National Assembly unaware.

If the security had not provided security for the two sessions to hold as ordered by the Senate President and as insinuated in the report captured in the The NATION, would Channels TV which led the media hype of the last “security siege” of NASS as it championed not again lead the way criticising the government for blocking the NASS to hold sessions to adopt motions on receiving President Buhari for the presentation of his budget?  It is important one journalist, no matter his size, should stand out and correct all of these misrepresentations that have attempted to mess up the journalism in recent times if not since long time ago.

All said and done the budget presentation took place, one can now authoritatively say, but not without concerted effort by PDP lawmakers to cause embarrassment to the President as witnessed in their jeering at him while he gave his address.  To use a straight word: The PDP lawmakers on Wednesday made attempt to boo “unbooable” President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because, as they tried to do so, they ended up messing up themselves.

Of note, while one must ask if PDP members of the near-ending Eight National Assembly are actually working for the Nigeria from whom they “illegally” take the N13.5 million to one senator they pay themselves while still unable to even pay their workers who make their legislative businesses succeed daily, however, was the overbearing cheers and commendations of the President by APC lawmakers which came as a neutralizer to the PDP lawmakers’ misdemeanor.

The mishaviour of the PDP lawmakers however got to the notice of President Buhari, who cautioned them like teacher cautions his pupils in classroom and which came as consolation to all Nigerians that actually mean well for Nigeria.  The President stopped for a while and issued his bombardment of the erring lawmakers paid by Nigeria for doing nothing for Nigeria: “Honourable Members, let me tell you that you are in the eyes of the world. This is not expected of you. You are expected to be above this.”

after the short break, the world’s most popular black man, rating by your’s sincerely, continued delivering his address at least to the saner lawmakers who were seated and citizens and friends of Nigeria watching their President and friend from all corners and crannies of the world.

Many Nigerians, who took to social media to express their concerns about the show of shame by the PDP lawmakers at Wednesday’s joint session, described the attitude as “idiotic”.

Among them is a notable social media activist, Akan Ebenezer, who in real sense noted that the action was what the PDP members resorted to, having come with no choice against reality of buhari’s excellent performance.

He said: “I read the idiots took to “jeering” the president during his budget presentation. Either the achievements alluded to pained them, or the challenges gave them satisfaction.

“Psychologically, you are left with “jeers” when ya anger and frustrations are impotent. Like, you cant do shit about ya issues. Despite their animosity because he has been rejecting their Bills, scolding them, and has refused to pamper them, they just cant touch him.

“They cant veto him. They cant impeach him.  They cant pray him dead.  And despite gathering in rabid packs, they dont see him losing to their preferred thief- and that makes a second term and the future bleak for them.

“So, they can only “jeer” like frustrated, small children, and Buhari, aptly, has generally treated them like recalcitrant children that the constitution forced on him.

“In the end, we are the ones that will suffer when they channel their anomie and wickedness to bastardizing the budget to assuage their egos.

“Lets just pray most of them never find their way back to the NASS.”

Extract from President’s budget speech

“This being my last budget speech to the 8th National Assembly, I will review economic developments over the past three and a half years with particular emphasis on 2018. I will then highlight the budget proposals for 2019. The full details of which will be given by the Honourable Minister of Budget and National Planning.”

OVERVIEW OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

“The last three and a half years have been challenging both at home and abroad. Commodity prices, both oil and non-oil, have been volatile. Global trends, be it security, trade or politics have also been unpredictable. Here in Nigeria, we have had to cope with disruptions in oil production and exports, security challenges and devastating floods.

“Through hard work, and by the special grace of God, we have weathered these storms and made progress on many fronts which is why we have cause to be optimistic about the future.

“The economy has recovered from recession and we have had six quarters of growth since then,” President Buhari said.