By Deborah Hassan
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has declared that Nigerians’ resort to self-help in a bid to provide security for their lives and properties is an indication of the failure of government to live up to its constitutional responsibility of securing lives and properties of its citizens.
In a welcome speech to his colleagues from the Christmas and New Year break delivered at plenary of Wednesday, February 10, 2021, Gbajabiamila said the House would, therefore, move to strengthen the administration of criminal justice in the country, as well as other relevant laws.
“Every time a citizen going about their business is killed or kidnapped, loses their property or livelihood, we have failed in our obligation.
“From the abundance of these failures has emerged a culture of self-help in matters of internal security that portends grave danger for our nation’s continued existence,” he stated.
He opined that it would take a united efforts by all Nigerians to overcome the challenges confronting the country, saying, “If ever there was a time for us to put aside all other considerations, especially the petty concerns of partisanship and politics, it is now.”‘
Harping on the danger that divisions along religion, ethnic and other lines portend for the country, he stated, “If ever there was a time to set aside our differences of tribe and religion to focus on a concerted effort to defeat the challenges of insurgency and banditry, communal violence, and the violent struggle over land, that time is now.
“The forces that threaten our lives and property, our sovereignty and nationhood, do not make any exceptions based on the God we pray to or the language of our native tongue.”
The Speaker, while stressing the need for the criminal justice system to be overhauled, added, “We will shortly begin considering Bills to amend the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. We will follow up with a long-overdue review of the Trafficking In Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement And Administration Act and other legislation that seek to deliver a justice system that works for all.”
He added, “The true test of government is in our ability to protect the most vulnerable amongst us. We cannot separate the goal of economic prosperity from the ambition to ensure that all our people live in a just society free from abuse of power and protected by a justice system built on fairness and the rule of law.
While the Legislature does not have control over the various security agencies, he noted, it will rely on its appropriation powers to hold them accountable, while collaborating with the Executive arm to improve the security situation in the country.
Furthermore, he disclosed that the Green Chamber would also focus on providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the country in order to boost the economy and provide a leeway for young people to engage in business without the burden of ”restrictive regulation and predatory regulatory practices.”
Gbajabiamila said, “In the 2021 legislative year, we will focus the attention of the House of Representatives on bills and motions that improve ease of doing business and unlock economic potential by stripping away restrictive regulation and ending predatory regulatory practices that deprive our young people the opportunity to conquer new frontiers.
“In this age of technology and innovation, of daring and enterprise, we cannot risk implementing policies that handicap our ability as a nation to participate in new markets and profit from emerging industries.”
Noting that the House commenced the new year with a renewed commitment to legislative action that drives the course of progress and brings the House closer to achieving the highest aspirations it holds for the nation, Gbajabiamila said “we remain dedicated to the lofty, yet clear ambitions we articulated in our Legislative Agenda when we resumed in the 9th Assembly.”
He said despite the challenges the House faced last year, it was able to pass meaningful and potentially transformative legislation such as the Nigerian Police Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (Amendment) Bill, Physically-Challenged (Empowerment) Bill, Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act (Amendment) Bill, and the Companies and Allied Matters Act, amongst many others.
In view of current realities, Gbajabiamila craved the indulgence of his colleagues to be careful with coming up with bills that seek to establish new institutions.
“At a time of reduced revenue, with preexisting and worsening infrastructure deficits requiring significant investments, we cannot afford to keep establishing more institutions that impose a permanent liability on government income. I am not unmindful of the realities that often necessitate such legislation, yet we cannot ignore the facts that lie before us.”