The New National Assembly in Nigeria

CHANGE, no matter its dimensions, can fundamentally alter the way we do things. We believe that change is on its way to the National Assembly, which has undergone its most profound makeover, in composition

in the past 12 years.

From a total dominance of the National Assembly in 1999, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is fast losing grip of the controls it has grossly mismanaged since the military handed over to civilian politicians.

The most recent votes are clearer statements of that loss. For the first time in 12 years, PDP will depend on the cooperation of the opposition to get bills passed. The possibilities for more robust debates, more explorations of the neglected issues in our politics could be great with more articulated positions from the other political parties.

Party loyalty will be in a race against loyalty to the electorate, which overwhelmingly voted out some legislators deemed irresponsive to the expectations of the people. Most of the parties destroyed their chances at the polls through imposition of candidates during the primaries. People voted in protest against some candidates at the elections.

Between the parties and the electorate, a new National Assembly, has been produced, though for different reasons. The processes might have been unintentional, but we have a National Assembly where new members, for the first time since 2003, are i0n the majority. The numbers are frightening and could be used across non-party lines to form a force that can ensure decisions go where it wants.

The Senate’s 109 membership has 73 new senators or 66.97 per cent of the chamber. They are spread through various parties, but if they decide to act as a block, they can block decisions they do not want. The House of Representatives fared worse. It has 260 new members or 72.22 per cent of its membership of 360.

PDP lost 12 senate seats, shrinking its hold to 71. It is not a comfortable number considering that many of the senators had their individual tribulations at the hands of party leaders.

Again, the greed of the parties and the older politicians is at play to the benefit of the people. When PDP imposes candidates for its leadership of the National Assembly, it forgets that new members can form alliances to protect their commonality, especially if it appears they are being penalised for their newness.

Nowhere will a common interest be found than in the defence of the electorate. It is obvious to most legislators that they go this far thanks to the electorate. After a long patience with the National Assembly, the electorate is getting restive and more demanding about how the National Assembly contributes to the progress of the country.

The peoples concerns are not new. They centre on the future of the country, challenges of daily survival, and ceaseless security threats. The people expect the National Assembly to tackle them with zest.

It will be another round of disap-pointment for the people, if the present National Assembly elects to be self-serving. The National Assembly’s freshness presents opportunities for the change, it should use it for themselves and for the people. ( Editorial Vanguard)

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