The House of Representatives will be resuming from the Christmas Break this week for legislative activities. One does not have to be clairvoyant to guess correctly some of the activities that will take their time on resumption. But would things be done differently? Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi take a look at possible events the lawmakers in the Green Chamber might concentrate on in 2017
2017 BUDGET
One of the priority assignments of the House would be the consideration of the 2017 Budget proposal laid before a joint sitting of the National Assembly on the 14th of December 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari. Though the National Assembly has reiterated the fact that the lifespan of the 2016 budget, especially the capital component terminates in May, 2017, Nigerians expect that the lawmakers would put their axe to the grind and begin the consideration of the budget in earnest. Budget consideration takes a while and most times, or at least for the past three years, budget has been passed earliest March of the following financial year. Luckily, the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) has been adopted and passed by the House and all that remains is for the lawmakers to scrutinize the appropriation document. Now that the frayed nerves of All Progressives Congress (APC) members have been calmed over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, the 2017 Budget and the proposed $29.9 billion foreign loans by the President, the coast seems clear for a robust consideration of the budget. So far, no one has shouted “padding!” and no petition has surfaced on the 2017 Budget…yet.
However, no member has yet reacted to the statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (Senate), Sen. Ita Eg, that President Muhammadu Buhari may not assent to Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly unless the schedule of detail of the budget was duly died the floor of both chambers of the National Assembly. Remember the problem of details or no details threw a hefty spanner into the engine of the 2016 Budget causing it to be carried to and fro like a sick baby. Many controversies ensued. Members of the House also cried foul over the budget, saying they had no inkling of what was in the 2016 Budget details and alleging that some creative accounting may have taken place at the Appropriation Committee level.
THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY BILL (PIB)
What exactly is the problem with the House of Representatives on the issue of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)? Why has the Green Chamber refused to tackle this supposedly omnibus legislation meant to stimulate the oil sector? Don’t they like it?
Recall that the Senate has passed its own version of the PIB through Second reading. The bill sponsored by Sen. Omotayo Alasoadura and 28 other Senators has as its objectives the creation of an efficient and effective governing institution with clear and separate roles for the petroleum industry.
It also establishes a framework for the creation of commercially oriented and profit driven petroleum entities that ensures value addition and internationalisation of the industry. Besides, it provides transparency and accountability in the administration of Nigeria’s petroleum resources and fosters a conducive business environment for Petroleum Industry Operators. So, why is the House feigning lack of interest? Or is the House just waiting to concur? The House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, had stated in December 2016 that the piece of legislation has not been forgotten.
Well, its January and Nigerians are salivating as we wait for the Reps version of the bill.
REPS AND INCREASE IN WORKERS’ SALARY
So, the House is interested in increasing workers’ pay this year? The leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila stated so.
The lawmaker while speaking to reporters in December on the possibility of increasing the salary of workers, especially in the face of soaring inflation and biting recession, stated salaries are presently “very low,” and that “something has to be done about it.”
But Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has stated the Federal Government is not interested in increasing workers salaries. So, how do we reconcile the two statements?
Gbajabiamila said: “The House is a House of the people and it will never back away from any move to increase salaries of workers. That is the reason we’re here…whether government or private workers, we’re here because of the people. And I for one and I believe a lot of our members, if and when the issue comes on the floor; I doubt if there will be a dissenting voice.
“And we will begin to look at that viz-a-viz inflation, unemployment. Personally, I believe wages are too low as we stand and I think something has to be done about it. And I think the House will be proactive in making that move.”
The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, while speaking on the issue of the contentious minimum wage during the sectoral debates last year said: “Even if you increase the minimum wage to N100, 000 and the cost of living is N120,000, then you have done nothing. What we have to address is the cost of living and this government addresses cost of living because it is investing in the things that make cost of living very high for the people such as power cost, transport cost, people spending hours on bad roads; it is being addressed, that is a cost.
So, is the Reps salary increase project still on course? This is especially since no single member faulted the minister on the floor when she spoke on May 26, 2016?
EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT
Is oversight going to be effective this year? Many Nigerians hope so. There have been claims and allegations on why oversight by lawmakers cannot be effective. Quite a number of people have posited that the forum should not be an avenue for lawmakers to feather their own nests or request for favours from Ministries, Departments and Agencies. As stated by the allegations, which most Nigerians are familiar with oversight cannot be effective under such demeaning conditions. Should someone be over-sighting the lawmakers?
DELAYED REPORT FROM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
So, how many investigations are going on presently? Many! Okay, how many reports of the past probes do we have? That has always been the problem. Committees get assignments and that’s the last you hear of the issue. Not too long ago, the House decided that any committee that passes a threshold of 30 days without submitting its report on any assignment given will be removed from the assignment. Whatever happened to that decision? Hopefully, this decision would help the House receive reports from committees within the prescribed time span.
CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT
The House has always taken the lead in the effort of amending the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As amended) so as to make it more effective and efficient. The Yusuff Lasun – headed Constitution Review Committee recently concluded a 3-day Retreat with members of the House leadership, consultants and other lawmakers in attendance. The committee is expected to continue the good work it is doing this year in order to conclude the review in a timely manner.
BILLS AND MOTIONS
As the House resumes, it is hoped that Bills and motions that address issues affecting Nigerians in areas of economy, education, security, health, power, infrastructural development and environment would be crafted just like that of the previous year.
In 2016, a total of 551 Bills were introduced in the House for the first time, 64 of the bills were consolidated based on similarity of content. Five of the Bills were ‘negatived’ while only 179 passed for second reading and 47 Bills successfully passed. It remains to be seen if or not the House would surpass this achievement in 2017.
The Nation