NASS urged to reconvene plenary over #ENDSARS as PIB, Electoral Act, others suffer delay

Concerned stakeholders have called on the National Assembly to reconvene plenary to address the contentious issue of #ENDSARS protest that have degenerated into crisis, leading to the loss of lives and destruction of properties.

Both chambers of the National Assembly last week adjourned plenary to November 24, 2020, to enable lawmakers to have adequate time to hold budget defence sessions with Ministries, Departments and Agencies, (MDAS).

President Muhammadu Buhari had on October 8, presented the 2021 budget of N13.08 trillion to a joint session of the National Assembly, during which he called for prompt passage to sustain the return to the January – December budget cycle.

Consequently, the National Assembly in its practice of suspending plenary for budget defence which became more pronounced in the twilight of the 8th Assembly and the current 9th Assembly adjourned plenary.

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The adjournment came at the point the #ENDSARS protests turned bloody with scores killed and properties destroyed in Lagos and Abuja, attracting local and international concerns.

Also, before the adjournment, there were a lot of critical legislations such as the consideration of the new Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management recently transmitted to the National Assembly by President Buhari, various constitutional alterations Bills and Electoral Act Amendment.

This could lead to the delay of these all-important pieces of legislation aimed at repositioning the socioeconomic status of the country as the National Assembly may not have time to attend to them when plenary is reconvened on November 24 and members shortly proceed on Christmas and new year break from the second week of December.

While the Senate passed for second reading, the PIB which aims to provide legal governance, a regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian petroleum industry, the development of the host communities and for related matters, before proceeding on the adjournment, the House of

Representatives are yet to commence debate on the general principles of the bill despite promises by the speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.

On the #ENDSARS protests, National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives through the speaker Gbajabiamila threatened not to sign off on the 2021 budget if it does not include adequate provisions to compensate those who have suffered violence and brutality at the hands of the police in Nigeria in the last two decades.

Assurance was also given that in two weeks, the house will receive and immediately begin to consider legislation that seeks to establish a system of independent, responsive accountability that holds erring members of the Police Force to account for their conduct in the performance of their duties.

However, these efforts have been seen as not enough hence the calls for the reconvening of plenary where more steps could be taken to address the situation.

The call first came from Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF) who asked the National Assembly to as a matter of urgency reconvene for an emergency session to discuss the alleged killings of peaceful protesters and conduct an investigative public hearing on the loss of lives and human rights violation resulting from police brutality.

Speaking to Businessday, Auwal Rafsanjani, executive director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) said even though it has been the tradition of National Assembly to go on recess whenever a budget is being presented for defence, the lawmakers should reconvene to address the #ENDSARS protests.

Rafsanjani said: “We will kindly appeal to the National Assembly given the national challenges that we are facing instead of completely going on recess, the National Assembly should consider reconvening to take decisive actions.

“For example, the ongoing crisis requires a collective intervention of the National Assembly. National Assembly has always provided leadership in a national crisis like the one we are facing. So, we believe that the National Assembly can play a role in addressing this lingering crisis that we are facing.