NIGERIA: THROUGH THICK AND THIN

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, assures Nigerians that the 10th House stands with them, writes Musa Abdullahi Krishi

At a time the country faces critical challenges that threaten the very fabric of its existence; at a time Nigerians battle with economic hardship that leaves many households in pains; at a time the people in some parts of the country cannot go to their farms or go to sleep with their eyes closed, they need some form of reassurance from their leaders to keep hope alive. They need to see concrete actions taken by those they entrusted with power.

That exactly was what Speaker Abbas Tajudeen did when he took the bull by the horn to address a world press conference on Thursday, February 8, 2024, the first of its kind by any sitting Speaker, in solidarity with the Nigerian masses, to show his concern and that of the House on the current situation in the country and reassure the citizens that the Parliament would take all the necessary legislative actions in collaboration with the Executive arm to ameliorate their plight.

On January 30, when the House reconvened from its Christmas and New Year break, the Speaker, in his address to his colleagues, said the Green Chamber would prioritize the economy and security in the year 2024.

While acknowledging the concerns of Nigerians on the current state of the economy, security and other issues during the press conference, Dr Abbas assured of doubled efforts towards addressing them.

First, he recognized the fact that as representatives of the Nigerian people, members of the House could not afford to pay lip service to the plight of the same individuals who elected them into office to protect their interests.

The press conference, in the words of the Speaker, was “to address some pressing challenges we face as a nation. The very fabric of our society is being tested, our resilience strained, and our unity challenged. However, amidst these trials, our spirit remains unbroken, and our resolve to overcome and thrive grows stronger.”

Speaker Abbas reckoned that the House was “acutely” aware of the rising security challenges affecting different parts of the country, noting that as elected representatives, the House also acknowledged the pain and suffering of every family that had been a victim of “brutal crimes and needless violence.”

The cries of Nigerians have not fallen on deaf ears, and their tears have not gone unseen, the Speaker assured, noting “We stand in solidarity with every Nigerian affected and commit to deploying robust legislative measures to empower our security agencies, ensure justice, and restore peace and order in our communities.”

The Speaker noted how President Bola Ahmad Tinubu demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving the security situation and enhancing the capability of the armed forces. One of the steps taken was the acquisition and induction of the T-129 ATAK helicopter and the King Air 360i aircraft into the Nigeria Air Force. This action was an indication of the government’s dedication to investing in the security infrastructure of our nation.

He said the president also signed the 2023 supplementary budget of N2.176 trillion on November 8, 2023 to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and address critical infrastructure deficit, amongst other considerations. These investments, in the face of global economic downturn and budgetary constraints, attest to the government’s determination to end insecurity in Nigeria.

 Abbas also recognised and commended the patriotic and courageous efforts of Nigeria’s security agencies. However, the Speaker said “the time has come for us to demand greater transparency from our security agencies and full accountability for all the funds spent and earmarked for spending in the sector. We kick-started our sectoral debates in November last year with the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police to demonstrate the seriousness we attach to security.”

Perhaps, the biggest legislative intervention to be provided by the House to address insecurity is the planned security summit, which the Speaker had announced since January and reiterated at the press conference. The summit, the Speaker said will come up in a matter of weeks, and will, among others, allow the House to hear directly from the key stakeholders in the security sector and suggest legislative measures to modernise the country’s security system and improve its operational efficiency and effectiveness.

The Speaker equally paid ample attention to the economic woes Nigerians currently face. Of particular concern to the House is the high inflation rates, particularly the rate at which prices of foodstuffs skyrocket daily. It is noteworthy that the president has taken rapid and decisive response on the issue of food security. Particularly, there was a provision of N200 billion in the 2023 Supplementary Budget for palliative package, mainly for grains, seeds, agricultural inputs and equipment for farmers. The momentum is sustained in the 2024 Budget, which has significantly improved budgetary allocations to all critical sectors of the economy, especially defense, healthcare, education and infrastructure.

Other measures the president took included the declaration of a state of emergency on food security, focusing on improving both availability and affordability; approving the release of fertilisers and grains to farmers and households; boosting the national strategic food reserve and introducing a price stabilisation mechanism, especially for critical food items. Only a few days ago, the president constituted a special presidential committee headed by the Chief of Staff to take immediate steps to arrest the worsening food situation.

The Speaker then assured that the National Assembly would continue to support the government’s efforts in finding effective solutions to these challenges. A critical step the House took in that direction was the creation of the Committee on Nutrition and Food Security with a mandate to strengthen the legislative framework for nutrition governance in Nigeria, advocate for the inclusion of nutrition in government priority programmes, and monitor resource allocation to nutrition in the annual budget estimates.

He also reassured Nigerians that the House would prioritise funding for programmes and initiatives to alleviate hunger and enhance security.

In this regard, the House engaged key economic and financial sector actors in the sectoral debates on Tuesday, February 6. Present at the sectoral debates was the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, his counterpart at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and his deputies, as well as the chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). They briefed the House on the country’s current economic crisis and immediate remedial measures to improve the situation.

Speaker Abbas also vowed that the House would support import and export policies that stabilise food prices and ensure adequate supply of essential food items at affordable rates, especially for Nigerians living in rural areas, in addition to proposing legislation to enable swift government response to tackle food shortages, including emergency food aid and support for affected populations.

To achieve results, the Speaker harped on the need for synergy among the three arms of government – executive, legislative, and judiciary – so as to function not as isolated entities but as a cohesive unit with a common goal, which is the welfare and progress of our dear country. He lauded the president’s disposition to collaborate with the National Assembly while respecting its independence.

Instructively, the Speaker encouraged constructive citizens-government engagement, which is the cornerstone of democratic governance, facilitating transparency, responsiveness, and inclusive decision-making. Notwithstanding the freedom of expression and constructive dialogue, the Abbas cautioned that Nigerians must also be wary of the dangers of fake news and campaigns of slander and defamation, especially against the president and senior government officials.

Specifically, the Speaker cautioned against the defamation campaigns on social media against government officials such as the immediate past Speaker and Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, whom Abbas noted “is just one of millions of Nigerians who suffer cyberbullying and coordinated campaigns of defamation daily. Too many victims are not as powerful as him to defend themselves.” 

In view of such ugly developments, the Speaker announced the intention of the House to strengthen libel, slander, and defamation legislation, stressing that “the House has no intention to stifle free speech. Instead, our objective is to protect the dignity of individuals and the integrity of public discourse.”

In the end, Speaker Abbas enjoined Nigerians to be patient as measures taken by the government take effect. He equally urged the citizens to join hands in solidarity and support the government’s policies, and work together toward the common goal of a better, stronger, and more unified Nigeria.

Krishi is the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, House of Representatives