Following the announcement of principal officers of the 10th senate, opposition leadership of the red chamber on Wednesday unveiled its legislative agenda and policy.
The opposition leadership noted that parliament plays a critical role in representation and oversight for the attainment of good governance and sustainable development.
It emphasised that parliamentary oversight exercises control over the activities of the Executive arm of government including other roles, like the making of the national budget in line with the provisions of the constitution, to ensure efficiency, accountability, and value for money on government expenditures, policies, programs, and projects.
Rising from a meeting of opposition caucus of the 10th Senate, Minority Leader, Senator Simon Devou Nwadkwon (PDP Plateau North) said the 10th Senate is unique in several ways, saying it reckons as the most diverse Senate in the history of Nigeria’s political development.
He observed that the 10th Senate is composed of Senators from seven political parties including the APC with 59 members and the opposition parties of PDP, Labour Party, NNPP, APGA, SDP, YPP producing 50 members.
He added that to effectively guarantee key elements of a democratic parliament where opposition is tolerated and respected; the opposition shall utilize the concept of “Specialized Parliamentary Caucuses” (SPCs) to lead a virile opposition in parliament in the 10th Senate.
According to Nwadkwon, the SPCs is a unique network of members who are passionate and committed to promoting good governance in specific thematic areas, a strong and assertive National Assembly for public interest and national Development; an Effective Oversight system; robust scrutinization of government proposals; Enhanced transparency in budget and budgetary process.
Others according to him include; Legislative Action on Security (LAS), Legislative Action on Infrastructure (LAI); Legislative Action on Youth Employment, Development and Job Creation (LAYEDEC) and Legislative Action on Health, Education, and Economy (LAHEE), Legislative Action on Gender representation (LAGR); Legislative Action Against Corruption (LAAC) and Legislative Action on Transparency in the utilization of Subsidy Savings (LAT-UAS) amongst other critical legislative action initiatives.
He said “under our leadership, the opposition parties will establish a formal secretariat with dedicated professional staff to ensure proper coordination and provide relevant legislative support to opposition Members to excel in their mandate as representatives of their constituents”.
Commenting on the emergence of senate minority leadership, he said “in terms of rules of procedure for the nomination of Minority Leadership of the Senate, “section 60 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) empowers the Senate to make rules to regulate its procedures.
“Premised on the constitutional mandate, and by the authority of the Nigerian Senate, the Senate Standing Orders 2022 (As amended) issued as the rule book to guide the conduct of legislative businesses including the appointment of principal officers by the Senate.
“Consequently, the Senate Standing Orders (2022) in Chapter Six (6), pages 21 to 22, Senate Rules Nos 27, 28, 29, and 30 provided for the Minority Leadership positions including the Minority Leader, Minority Whip, Deputy Minority Leader, and Deputy Minority Whip “Who shall be Senators, nominated from the Minority Parties in the Senate.”
According to the lawmaker the critical emphasis here is that “the Officers must be (1) Serving Senators of the Federal of Nigeria, who are (2) Members of the Minorities Parties in the Senate”.
He explained that the word nominate means to “Propose”.
“When a proposal is made, it is usually to an authority that has the confirming powers, in this case, the President of the Senate.
“Accordingly, the President of the Senate received the proposal, announced it, and publicly gavelled the Minority Leadership nominees into confirmation in line with the Senate Standing Orders” he added.
