By Sunny Anderson Osiebe...
The
business of lawmaking in a complex federation like Nigeria is an arduous undertaking
that requires not only dexterity or adroitness but soundness of character and a
heart that beats for the good of the nation as well as its people. These are
undeniable qualities found in Hon. Uzoma Nkem- Abonta – a third term member of the
green chambers representing Ukwa East/West Federal Constituency. In this
interview on good governance Hon. Abonta sheds light on the role of the House
of Representatives in the fight against corruption and in revamping the economy
which is evidently on a downward spiral. He also talks about the leadership
tussle in the House, his score card in the first session of the 8th
Assembly and other relevant issues.
What is
your scorecard in the first 1st Session of the 8th
National Assembly.
The 8th Assembly has been very robust
in spite of the challenges accompanied with change. We have managed to weather
the storm and to God be the glory, we have done relatively well in areas of national
issues and economic matters. You recall we were inaugurated on the 9th of June,
2015 and since then we have been doing very well.
If you look at our scorecard based on
the number of bills or motions or based on debates, you will agree with me that
the 8th assembly under the leadership of Yakubu Dogara has done very well, even,
though one or two things are left to be done. We do not proclaim to be angels
but we are far from being the devil.
Considering
the time devoted to the polities of leadership, most Nigerians nurse the
perception that the last one year was devoted to leadership tussle, how true is
this perception?
Well, leadership tussle is a continuous
process, even in heaven we know that leadership tussle is still on; Satan is
still fighting hard, not relenting. That is why Christians pray every day. So also,
in the National Assembly, leadership tussle is still playing out but to God be
the glory, the Assembly, particularly, the House of Representatives, have been
able to overcome that to a large extent. What they have is banana peels, here
and there and I think Yakubu Dogara is mindful of those banana peels and has
done well to avoid them.
We cannot say we do not have leadership
tussle but those that are inordinately ambitious, who say “it must be me”, are
still doing some covert activities to bring down or to sabotage the efforts of
Dogara but the collective will of every one of us has been keeping and pushing in
a way that one may not notice the leadership tussle, easily. It is everywhere.
It is in all the parties; the committees and all walks of life, it is there but
we do well to manage the tussle. Some cult clashes and all what not, being
experienced today, it’s also part of leadership tussle but I want to tell you
and I stand to be corrected, that in spite of the leadership tussle challenges,
we have remained one in focus and we are moving ahead in the best interest of
Nigeria.
As a
lawmaker, what areas do you think can be improved upon for the effectiveness of
the House of Representatives?
Basically, the first thing we need to do
is to look at the capacity building of the Legislators. You know we came from
all walks of life; some traders, some doctors, some engineers, some lawyers,
some farmers, some nothing and we all converged to represent the interest of
our people. So, you cannot do what you do not understand how to do. This is why
we need capacity building. Unfortunately, we have not incorporated this
capacity building in the ongoing training for lack of funds. People are
shouting in the National Assembly, budget should be downsized which we did,
forgetting that there are Nigerian Institute of legislative studies and News management
and so on. They forget that these things take money. Presidential system of
governance is expensive and if you must to do it today, you must train the
people and give them the competence and the capacity to do what they ought to
do. How can you draft a bill or debate on a bill about a subject matter that is
unknown to you? How are you going to discuss what you do not know and even if
you attempt to discuss, you will only be discussing from a shallow point of
view. You may approach it from a point of ignorance. So, capacity building is
the foremost thing that needs to be done.
Again, the uncalled executive interference
of lawlessness and party interference should also be reduced by people, that
you may be able to do your work as per the interest of your people not as per
the interest of your godfathers or the executive.
A typical example of
this unsuitable interference is the case of the budget. Nigerian legislators
are budget-writing legislators but you saw what happened, that on the long run,
the legislature did not make the 2016 budget. It was purely an executive budget;
we got it as presented. Does that reflect the interest of the people who sent
me?
In the interest of Nigeria, we said, let
there be a budget without chaos. Let us be moving and hope that the Executive
too would shift a little ground and look at how things are done in civilised
societies. We are not in a military government; we are in a democratic
government. So, the Executive arm must not insist it must be in their terms.
They should give room for due process - bring it to us, we look at it; have what
I choose to call, advanced interface – they should not bring it to us and
expect a garbage in, garbage out, feedback.
Now, we are in 2016, by the end of
2016, why not begin to prepare for us what may be the budget of 2017. So, we
begin to discuss it, to sort out the areas and look at it in advance. So that
when the budget comes, there won’t be much friction but of course friction is
part of politics. It is allowed but to be able to have friction without an
injury is what many should clamour for. We shouldn’t allow this friction
to grit so much that we now get injured but as per
the legislators, there must be what I call interface - periodic interface.
We should rub minds; after all, we are all here to serve Nigeria. They should
not forget that the Legislature is an arm of government as well as the Judiciary
and the Executive. The government does not revolve and end with the executive.
So when these things are sorted out and
put in place, then I think we can begin to have free and fair elections. Nobody
should clog the wheel of the legislature because what we experience now is
little clots and bricks in the legislative wheel. They should allow the
wheel flow freely, that way democracy will go on.
It is no
story that our economy is in a quagmire. What do you think can be done or what
are you people doing to help revamp the economy?
We do not need a soothsayer or a
prophet to tell us that the economy is deteriorating. According to one of my
colleagues who granted an interview, he advised that the citizenry should put
on a life jacket because as the economy is moving like this and like that, it
will soon sink. The generality of our economy is influenced by the economic and
financial principles of the present government. For example, banks are
retrenching and you cannot tell them not to retrench, as you did not give them
money to trade. It is a private business. Until we pump money into the system,
there won’t be a turnaround. So, I think that as an economy that is diving
seriously, we must do something to ameliorate the situation and as legislators,
all hands are on deck to see what we can do to salvage the system. That’s why
we peacefully accepted the budget. So that there will be money in the system. That’s
why we sit down to discuss. That’s why we also allowed, graciously - because it’s
the right thing to do - the removal of subsidy. Because we cannot continue with
subsidy. If you recall, in the last government, we opposed subsidy removal. That
was a wrong opposition. Subsidy has to be removed, so the savings can be injected
back into the system that we may go on.
What is
the role of the Legislative in the fight against corruption?
Oh, of course, corruption is what we
must help to fight but let me also let you know that corruption is big and has
eaten deep into the system. There are species of corruption - stealing of funds
is corruption; inflating of contracts is corruption; favouring your kit and kin
with political appointments is corruption and so on. That is why the House of Representatives
is insisting on federal character. In the appointments done so far, can we
claim federal character? In all government parastatals, can we claim federal
character? Are all the geopolitical zones, equally represented? In giving out juicy things, do you consider
the situation of the country? Taking money without invoicing is corruption. Delaying
to finish a matter is also corruption. So, as legislators, we are strengthening
the legal regime to fight corruption.
The Judiciary will play a vital role to
stop corruption than even the Executive but we are here supporting President Buhari,
100% on corruption. Using anti-corruption crusades to fight enemies alone is corruption. You
should also give them a freehand without having them pushed to fight. Influencing
a judge to come out with a particular way of judgement is also corruption. Fighting
political misled battles is also corruption, as they are corrupting the political system. So, corruption is a large concept but we must try to
reduce its existence to the barest minimum. On that point, we are 100% with
President Muhammadu Buhari in fighting this menace, as it is our greatest
enemy.
You have
passed so many bills and moved many motions in the last one year. How has your
bills and motions influenced good governance?
Of course, as a Legislator, your
primary responsibility is law-making; to sponsor bills that will lead to good
governance. When I came to the Assembly, I realised that the only way out of the
current economic mess is to have an alternative to oil. Having another
alternative to oil will mean, having other areas that we can effectively deal with.
You can agree with me that Nigeria is seen as a dumping ground - we import more
than we export. Which begs the question, what can we do to ensure that we
export more, so we can earn more? In this regard, I started crafting bills and
motions that are geared towards improving and stabilising the agricultural sector,
the export sector that we may be able to have things done. Otherwise, if we
rely solely on oil, then we would be nose-diving as oil is nose-diving.
So, the first motion I moved was the
motion to have the handover note of President Goodluck Jonathan, so we can have
a basis to access President Muhammadu Buhari. Idon’t know if we have gotten
that handover note, yet. If we get the note, we will know to what extent he
went before handing over; whether the money he claimed he left, he actually did.
We will, also know where he stopped; appreciate what he achieved; learn from where
he failed and generally, access his tenure. The next motion I moved was a
motion that borders on increasing the Police force because we are understaffed
in that area. If you do not have Police to protect and save lives, in vain are
we making these laws to secure lives and properties. On that note, I am glad President
Muhammadu Buhari listened and is currently recruiting people into the Police
force. Then, I went into other things like statutory instruments that allows
persons who have are given authority to make laws, to carry us along on their
activities. The bills that I have done so well are the Community exchange
bills. This bill suggests that agricultural products should have bases for us
to market them and market them very well. Ghana, Ethiopia to mention but a few,
survives on cocoa and farm produce. They have a very lucrative community exchange
platform. Do you know that the number of people that eat chocolate is almost
equal to those that use oil? For everything you do in this world, you are most
likely to use chocolate, especially in the international community. Why can't
we also do that? The tallest building in Ibadan today was built with cocoa money.
So, what's happening now? These are some areas that I tried to draw the
attention of the government for a better Nigeria. In Investment and Security
exchange bill, I have to my credit about forty to fifty (40-50) bills of which
some have been signed into law. I went into agriculture; animal
health and husbandry, so we can monitor how those things are produced
and the nomads will be able get maximum government attention.
Then, I also turned to Federal Capital Territory
because we are the legislators of FCT and if it is not
properly planned, it will look like Lagos, in terms of over-population.
In this area, we have done lots of bills to regulate activities in FCT. We
also went to Commerce; Chattered Institute of Operational Managers.
One thing we suffer in Nigeria is what is known as
lack of maintenance culture. Take a look at this one
time magnificent edifice known as the National
Assembly building, it is deteriorating. I even, don't use the
lift anymore because it keeps breaking down. We lack managerial abilities.
So, through this bill we wish to challenge those property managers to do their
jobs very well, by giving them a legal backing to be able to do their
job, anywhere, without hassles. I also touched the
International Trade and Financial centre. I thought that
the labour institutions must have stable labour organisations for us to
have a stable labour business. We established the
electronic transaction bills. Today, we talk about e-transfer
and all what not, yet we do not have any legal regime regulating it.
Supposing you go to the ATM to withdraw money and the transaction
fails but your account gets debited and you cannot reverse it. At
what time do you hold the bank responsible and at what
point can you sign a contract online and so on. We are advocating that
there must be laws to regulate issues of this nature. I worked with the Energy
commission and we also looked at all those moribund laws. You either dust them
up or clean them out and replace them with new ones that will suit the reality
of our days. These are all we are trying to do to make Nigeria better and safe.
We are focusing on these bills, hoping that when they are passed into law they
will assist the Executive in proffering good governance. Good governance is
producing good government and through legislation, we hope to do that and in
the last one year we did the much time and resources permitted us to do, while
we look forward to doing more this year. If you look at our scorecard, you will
see that the house has done relatively well in that it has passed more than
seven hundred (700) bills. Which is why I say in spite of all the challenges
accompanied with change; the leadership tussle and all, the 8th assembly stood
her ground and have done noble. We will continue to do well, until we get
Nigeria right.
As a
third termer, you are well-grounded in terms of law-making business. What
is that thing that you think you did not do well in the
last one year of the 8th Assembly that you hope to correct in this new
legislative year?
Honestly speaking, I cannot pinpoint in
the 8th assembly what we didn’t do or have not done well but there are a lot of
things yet to be completed. We are in the process, as you know, the leadership
tussle took us aback. It was an impediment to all but we overcame it. Also, the
manner, in which we are receiving the change, is also an impediment. What we have
not gotten right in the National Assembly is capacity building for legislators.
It might be an in-house training, not necessarily flying to America or Germany
because we must develop our indigenous system known by us. We must have enough
in-house training for legislators, so they can have the required capacity to
represent their people. Otherwise, we will not fire in full cylinders. So, this
is what I think we must get done before we proceed to other matters and we must
do that effectively. So, 8th Assembly, we have not failed.
Then the Primary health care is another
area, we need to shift our attention to because if the people are hungry, then
we cannot sleep. Let me tell you, we must emphasise on the things that will
bring food to Nigerians because a hungry man is an angry man and an angry man
can do anything. There is an adage that goes thus; the rich have no sleep
because the poor are awake and the poor cannot sleep because they are hungry. So,
the only way a rich man can sleep is if and only when he provides food for the
poor, so that the poor can eat and sleep. There must be something for the poor
to eat because in the absence of food, the poor will have the rich as food
(laughs)
A lot of
persons believe that the 8th Assembly have not done much in terms of oversight
functions, do you share their belief?
Yes, I do because in the last one year,
the area we have not performed at least up to 70% is the area of oversight
functions. But come to think of it, when did they appoint Ministers? When did
the Executive get settled to start working? When did the budget come? Have they
started implementing the budget? Until the 10th of August that’s when we will
start to scrutinize the budget performance. It is only when the budget starts
to be implemented, that we will have functions to oversee. Except you are
saying that the 8th Assembly, did not inherit the balance of work handed down
by the 7th Assembly. If you say that, then we failed but if it is clearly what
is on the platform and the front board of the 8th Assembly, there is really not
much we could have done. So, in the area of oversight, yes, we have not done
much because the budget has just been released.
Another militating factor, before now,
was that of Ministers believing they are unanswerable to the legislators. But President
Muhammadu Buhari stepped in and made it clear that all Ministers are subject to
the call of the National Assembly. Prior to his regime, when you invite a Minister,
he/she does not honour your invitation because they nursed the notion that we
had no power to summon them. My committee, Public petitions committee, have
power of oversight, oversees the petitions brought in by the public and I make
bold to say without mincing words, that we have done well in that area. We have
considered petitions without sentiments. We have scrutinised them and given the
deserving people, justice. Public petition is where the poor can bring the rich
and the rich can bring the poor. We sit down and look at the matter devoid of
the technicalities; the court fees etc. and we give our recommendation,
thereafter. Nigerians find succour now, in public petitions. They use it as a
tool to readdress any problem. We had more petitions in this past one year than
any other Assembly have had in the last two to three years.
On this note, I can say that we have
done relatively well and like I said, earlier, we are not angels, as we are
certainly not devils.
Your challenges
so far, as a Lawmaker?
My challenges so far will remain my constituency.
I need to do more for them and that is why we need to be allowed to make inputs
in drafting of budgets. Buhari does not know my constituency and has not been
there, except he came there during the military war but from the record he did
not fight any body there and since no Minister is from my constituency, who
will budget for us? If I do not make an input you will see that we will not be
in the budget. This inspires my advocacy, that constituency projects should be
allowed, maintained and continued. In fact, if there is an interface, we could
even submit these considerations for Ministries to adopt. Then, there is the
issue of inter-party and intra-party fracas. I advise, we eschew party
bitterness and to this extent, I duff my hat for Yakubu Dogara for leading a House
where peace and unity foster. We work as a team, advancing Nigeria, not as
parties.
My challenges I still would say, are
the speed with which we do things, the form in which we do things, the
equipment with which we do things and the lack of capacity building for things.
We need all this so we can go on.
How many
bills and motions did you sponsor or move, in the last one year?
Well, in the last one year I have been
privileged to do about forty-five (45) or thereabout bills. Of which most have
passed second reading. About four of them have been signed into law, and we are
still counting. You may wonder why I was able to achieve this much
during the period under review. It all borders on the capacity
building that I have been talking about. I came to the National Assembly
as a legislative aide to a Senator. I served in that office for a period of eight
(8) years. During which I acquired experience - capacity building. I came 2007 first
tenure, second tenure and now. Most of my bills are bills that have
been sponsored in the past but didn't get assent. So, I
reintroduced them and then kept pushing them to be considered for
approval. I have to my credit, 44-45 bills and they are mostly on
agriculture, health, non-export matters and then professionalism.
There should be stratagems with which things are done around here. This will
enable any group of persons who specialise in any given field to have license
to practise their profession amidst having some discipline, rules and
regulations guiding them.
What
should we expect in this 2nd session, in terms of bills and motions?
Well, as we travel around the world
and I notice any lacuna in areas bordering on good governance, of course I
will sponsor bills that will address the hiatus. Bills are
written and sponsored, once the need arises. We don't just write bills because
we feel like, bills are written based on necessity.
What
is your input on the recent Niger delta bombings?
I will suggest that President Muhammadu
Buhari borrows a leaf from the government of late Yar'adua. Applying all
wisdom of military tactics will not solve this issue. Now, what is the
justice of matter in Niger delta? They are only asking for survival. They are
asking to be given enough from what is being taken from them. We need to make
laws for the generality of the people. Let there be a legal regime where we can
say for all extractive industries mining solid, fluid or whatever, there should
be some sort of derivative returns. Derivative principle should be established
even in agricultural matters. Cocoa, groundnut, palm oil and all what not,
should have derivative practice. Some weeks back, we moved a motion asking to
have a lasting solution to the Niger delta struggle and I just told you here
that the rich cannot sleep because the poor are awake and the reason they are
awake, is hunger. Thus, the only way the Niger delta feud will disappear, is if
we provide succour for the unemployed youths that are suffering from oil depredation
arising from exploration. Do you know what gas flaring causes? Glaucoma, cancer
and all manner of sicknesses. Hence, as you are taking from them, put something
back there that can cushion the suffering caused by what you are
taking. That's all they are asking for!
So, if they are asking and
expressing themselves - though in a very crude way- and you say
you are going to kill all of them, will that solve the problem? Two
wrongs don't make a right. Is government not continuity? Yar'adua did
a gazette of what he intended to do for the militants. I think that
President Buhari should consider implementing the things in that paper. If they
were paying them stipends, the government can find a way to make those who were
trained, employable by incorporating them in the system. That is the only way
we can win this struggle. They are not religious fighters. They could be seen
as freedom fighters trying to reclaim that you take from them. So, I think in
all fairness, what could settle this menace, is to bring a basic template that
will ensure development in the area. A typical example is a place called oloebiri. That is the first place the
commercial oil flaring was done. Go to that community today, you will cry. They
don’t even have a standard hospital but Nigeria has taken so much oil from them
causing them so much suffering, blindness and all what not. I can go on and on
to mention these communities for you. What have they gotten? So, I appeal to
government to reconsider - use and dump shouldn’t be the order of the day.
In the
last one of year of the 8th assembly can you recall ways that bipartisanship
has come into play in resolving national issues?
Parties need not come together to
resolve national issues, they could do it on party level. In the Assembly, the
different party caucus come together to discuss national matters. For example,
on the case of oil hike, PDP met and resolved that, that is the way forward.
Though, Jonathan tried it but destructive criticism and opposition, didn’t let
him succeed. So, we decided we are not going to play destructive opposition. We
will play credible opposition. We appreciate Buhari for knowing that which Jonathan
had taught many years ago but the question is after removing subsidy, what are the
palliatives? Try and look at what you can do. The PDP is guiding; like
pathfinders, showing them what to do. I also know that APC has met severally to
look at issues and so to resolve their own problems. There is no house without
mosquito but do not let that mosquito cause you malaria, try and manage it.
What can
be done to curb the ugly trend of political godfatherism?
Well, in as much as godfatherism policy
is not desirable, it must exist for you to function. Just like in churches
there are spiritual fathers. For one to start prophesying and laying hands, somebody
must have mentored him to get to that level, from maybe Catechist to pastor to
archbishop to bishop before that person can break away. In politics too,
somebody must mentor you. Like I mentioned earlier, I came here (National Assembly)
as a legislative aide and I was guided, though criticised for being too young to
run. So, while looking for ways to arrest this ugly trend, we should also look
at reducing the running age. How can you
scrap godfatherism? when for example, you cannot be elected into the federal
house if you do not have N100million. So, if you are a starter, someone needs
to push you.
Again, it is the electorate that will
stop godfatherism. When you hike and say, you won’t vote, if I don’t bring you
money or a bag of rice. Where will I get it? I will have to go to a godfather,
who will sponsor me. The party form is sold at 5million! Tell me, how many young
Nigerians; have that amount to buy just form? They are not campaigning o! Just
form! So, if you want to remove godfathers, call them sponsors, as godfatherism
is a product of the system. The system must adjust itself, if we must stop
godfatherism in its entirety but we cannot, so, we may reduce it to the barest
minimum.
BILLS SPONSORED BY
HON. UZOMA NKEM-ABONTA IN THE 1st SESSION OF THE 8th
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
1.
Police Act (Amendment) Bill, 2015
2.
Satellite Towns Development Agency Bill,
2015
3.
Statutory Instrument (Legislative
Scrutiny) Bill, 2015
4.
National Programme on Immunization
(Repeal) Bill, 2015
5.
National Primary Health Care
Development Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2015
6.
Petroleum Refineries (Incentives,
Regulation and Miscellaneous Provision) Bill, 2015
7.
Environmental Managers Registration
Council of Nigeria Bill, 2015
8.
Chartered sInstitute of Project Management
Bill, 2015
9.
Federal Capital Territory Area Councils
(Administrative and Political Structure) Bill, 2015
1. Commodity Exchange Bill, 2015
1. Emergency Communication Bill, 2015
1. Investment and Securities (Amendment) Bill, 2015
1. Telecommunication Facilities (Lawful Interception of Information) Bill,
2015
1. International Trade Commission Bill, 2015
. Free Trade Zones Bill, 2015
1. Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Bill, 2015
1. FCT HIV/Aids Control Agency Bill, 2015
1. Energy Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2015
1. Parental Rights and Child Control Bill, 2015
2. Advisory Council on Religious Affairs Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill,
2015
2. Chartered Institute of Finance and Control of Nigeria Bill, 2015
2. Chartered Institute of Export and Commodity Brokers of Nigeria Bill,
2015
2. Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill, 2015
2. Associated Gas Re-Injection (Repeal) Bill, 2015
2. National Crop Varieties and Livestock Breeds (Registration ETC)
(Amendment) Bill, 2015
2. Produce (Enforcement of Export Standards) (Amendment) Bill, 2015
2. Electorate Act (Amendment) Bill, 2015
2. Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) (Repeal) Bill, 2015
2. Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provision) (Amendment) Bill, 2015
3. Public Enterprises Regulatory Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2015
3. National Film and Video Censors Board (Amendment) Bill, 2015
3. Private Guards Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2015
3. Hire Purchase (Amendment) Bill, 2015
4. Animal Health and Husbandry Technologist (Registration, ETC) Bill, 2015
3. Electronic Transaction Bill, 2016
3. Chartered Institute of Operations Management Bill, 2016
3. Labour Institutions Bill, 2016
3 Labour Standards Bill, 2016
3. FCT Hospital Management Board Bill, 2016
4. Office of the Nigeria Financial Ombudsman Bill, 2016
4. Nigerian International Financial Centre Bill, 2016
4. High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (Amendment) Bill, 2016
4. FCT Traffic Management and Enforcement Authority Bill, 2016
4. Infrastructure Development Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2016
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