10th Senate leadership and the rules of engagement

The 9th Legislative cycle is on its eclipse into the historical trajectory of our uninterrupted constitutional democracy since 1999. By the community reading of Sections 60(1) and 4(1) of 1999 Constitution as amended, the national legislature is intentionally empowered without hindrance within the purview of its core mandate of legislative processes in appropriation, legislations and oversight responsibilities

Unarguably, these highlighted constitutional provisions have enhanced the unassailable authority of this arm of government within the province of separation of powers in constitutional democracy thus promoting participation within the allowances of International Covenants on civil and political rights and domesticated in Chapter 11 section 14 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

As the 10th Senate is in its delivery stage, the ranking rules that govern and promote institutional integrity, capacity utilisation and the traditional parliamentary precedent on returning members has been a subject of several and associated intrigues arising from either the misunderstanding of the rules or mediocrity of the otherwise proponents in the black corridor of various power grid.

These antics and needless efforts at derobing the relevance and clear intendments  of the Constitution as espoused in Section 311 of the 1999 CFRN (as amended, Fifth Alteration, No. 8), which provides that only the standing orders and rules of a subsisting Assembly shall be used in the election of principal officers at the state and National Assembly. The same 5th Alterations

(No.8) Act, 2023 also alters sections 54, 96 and 311 of the Constitution to stipulate a quorum of at least two-thirds of members-elect for inauguration or first sitting of the Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly. Within the purview of section 311(1)of our constitution, “this section shall have effect until the National Assembly or a House of Assembly exercises the powers conferred upon it by section 60 or 101 of this Constitution as appropriate.

Section 311(2) posits that “The Standing Orders of the Senate established under the section shall have effect until the National Assembly or a House of Assembly exercises the powers conferred upon it by section 60 or 101 of this Constitution as appropriate.

Section 311(2) posits that “The Standing Orders of the Senate established under the provisions of this Constitution”.

Section 50(1) has unambiguously gives verve and meaning to who the presiding officers in the Senate are. The preponderance of strong aspirants from the cubicle of affluence and in some cases of weak leadership culture to the Senate Presidency demonstrates the deep national consciousness in our representative democracy and the associated desperation by some politicians regardless of the mood of the nation to manipulate our commonwealth. In consequence, caution must be exercise and vigilance should be unlocked to monitor these emerging mercantilists on the prowl.

The 10th Senate President must be a connecting rod to the other arms of government to reset our national priority and jumpstart sustainable development governance. The 10th Senate President and its Leadership must have people-driven consciousness to protect and preserve sovereignty which belongs to the people. Senator Godswill Akpabio as the 10th Senate President will be a frankincense in flavour and a veritable incentive to progressive politics and governance.