Ex-Reps Speaker Bankole blame governors, voters apathy for high turnover of legislators

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Dimeji Bankole has blamed the overbearing influence of governors for the high turnover of legislators in the country.

Delivering a lecture titled: “legislative turnover and effects on institution building and national development” at the 6th convocation ceremony of the national institute of legislative and democratic studies (NILDS) UNIBEN postgraduate and HND programmes in Abuja, he remarked that the situation is worsened by the appalling level of voters apathy across the country.

Decrying the situation, he said the least the least the electorates can do is to endeavour to participate in the electoral process that throws up public officer holders across the three tiers of government.

He remarked that a situation whereby over 70 percent of national assembly members, 80 percent of state Assemblies members and 95 percent of councillors with experience and institutional memory could not retain their seats would surely impact negatively on the governance in the country.

Bankole further stressed the need for strengthening and professionalizing political parties to make them less likely to be hijacked by governors or other moneybags.

He contended that the immediate implementation of financial and operational autonomy for the State Houses of Assembly and State Judiciary remains vital for their independence, institutionalisation, and the exercise of effective oversight of the executive.

He added: “Proposals for granting constitutional recognition to Local Governments as the third arm of government and the introduction of independent candidature are all steps in the right direction, Local governments have the potential to bring development closer to the people and bridge alot of the gaps.

“Given the legislature’s role in holding the executive to account, passing laws, and reviewing government policies, the quality of people elected into the legislature is important.

“Those elected into parliament should not simply be ‘loyalists of governors’ of ‘governors’ boys’ but people who can understand and engage with policy and other technical issues routinely presented to the legislature.

” Although the democratic process can always inject new people into the legislature, non-executive interference can protect legislative terms and results, over e long time, in institutions and capacity building It will also save the Legislature from investing substantial resources in Capacity-strengthening activities.”

Continuing, he noted: “When power is concentrated in one arm of government, it could result in tyranny end ultimately hinder the effectiveness of the other arms from holding each other to account.

” As the dictum goes, ‘power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. In order to ensure a balance of power and institute accountability, executive interference with the legislature, especially at the subnational level, should be minimized.

” The ability of the legislature to function depends on its financial and operational autonomy. Examples at the federal level have shown the dangers of executive interference.

” The tension between the Olusegun Obasanjo-led executive and the then Speaker, Ghali Umar Na’ abba, and that between Goodluck Jonathan and Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and more recently, the hostility between the executive and the 8th Senate under Bukola Saraki have amply demonstrated that very little can be achieved when the executive seeks to control or dictate to the legislature.”

At the occasion graced by several dignitaries and academics including the Senate President Ahmad Lawan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, the Vice-chancellor, of the UNIBEN, Prof Lilian Imuetinyan Salami, the NILDS Director General, Prof Abubakar Sulaiman disclosed that of the 87 graduates, 30 of them were for Master’s Degree in Legislative Studies, 8 for Master’s Degree in Legislative Drafting, 19 for Master’s Degree in Parliamentary Administration, 13 for Master’s Degree in Elections and Party Politics and 11 candidates in PGD in Political Party Management while the Higher National Diploma (HND) in official reporting has 6 candidates.

He explained that a greater percentage of the enrollees in the programmes included legislators, legislative staff serving in various capacities (including committee clerks and staff, research staff, chamber staff and drafters, etc.) as well as legislative aides.