Frictions
By Bolaji Buhari
Lagos, March 18,2018 (NAN) A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Na’aba on Sunday described as unfortunate, the incessant frictions between the executive and legislative arms of government over issues of national development.
Na’aba told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that lack of cordial relationship between the two arms had been threatening the growth of democracy and development in the country .
He said it was normal in a democracy for the two arms to disagree on issues, but he pointed out that persistent executive/legislative feud over almost everything was bad for the polity.
The former speaker said the country’s democracy should have outgrown unnecessary executive /legislative conflicts as it had attained some level of maturity.
“Honestly, the incessant frictions between the executive and legislative arms over issues of development are very unfortunate.
“We thought we had outgrown that; we had thought the problem was gone, but unfortunately it is still here in our democracy and even getting worse.
“Though, we don’t accept that there should be no friction between the two at all, we do not expect the relationship to be at its low ebb and be threatening the growth of democracy and progress “, he said.
He, however, urged both arms to close ranks and work in harmony for the progress and the betterment of the people.
The former speaker particularly urged the executive to learn how to deal with the legislative arm to foster good working relationship with each other.
“The executive should understand the kind of legislature it is working with and ensure there was harmony between both arms .
“The executive should also carry the legislature and other institutions along in whatever they are doing otherwise, we will continue to have this problem,” he said.
He urged the two arms to put the interest of the people first in anything they were doing.
On the bill to re-order the election time table and the threats by the National Assembly to veto it after the president’s rejection, Na’aba said he had a neutral position on the issue.
He, however, the said the National Assembly could go ahead to veto the bill if it felt that was the right thing to do.
“Well, it is not for me to suggest what the legislature should do and what it should not do.
“It is for the legislature to decide what their priorities are and whatever it is their philosophy to re-order the timetable.
“If they feel very strongly to over rule the president’s veto, all well and good, if they think it is necessary for them to do it, well, fine,” he said.
Nevada, however, said the National Assembly during his time once overruled former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s veto on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) bill.
He described the killings by suspected herdsmen as a dangerous phenomenon, saying that the development had been threatening peace in the country.
Na’ab, however, said the act was being used by foreigners to infiltrate the country through its porous borders.
“But whatever it is or whoever is behind the killings, the development is a dangerous one which should be nipped in the bud,” he said.
Na’aba also called on the government to urgently address the issue of desertification in some states as it could be a threat to food security and access to potable water.
He suggested the planting of trees to serve as wind breakers to address the problem as well as government coming to the aid of people living in the affected areas. (NAN)
BHB/ESAN/PAD
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Edited by Abiodun Esan/Peter Dada