L
LequteMan
Guest
It is not a rare thing for top government officials and officers to have immunity from being prosecuted for criminal offences civil crimes in the world; it helps them to avoid unnecessary distractions in the discharge of their duties.
According to the Nigerian constitution, Nigerian Presidents and governors are exempted from being tried for any wrong doing, as long as they are still in office. The same is not the case for the legislative arm of the country.
Nigerian senators and members of the House of Representatives at the moment will be tried, and may be jailed if found guilty of any crime. The lawmakers aren’t happy about this, and want to eat the same cake enjoyed by the executive and judiciary arms of government.
Nigerian Senators, months ago introduced the idea of amending the constitution and passing a law that top officials of the national assembly enjoy immunity. They discussed at length, bickered and argued amongst themselves over the issue.
A bill to this effect was recently introduced, and passed, during a raucous session at the House of Representatives. This is despite calls from several sections of the country against the action. The bill is set to be read the second time at the chamber before being passed to the Senate for ratification.
In a country riddled by widespread corruption and fraud, this isn't the way forward and here are five reasons why:
1. Abuse of Power: Nigerians are notorious for abuse of power, lawmakers are not an exemption. Nigerian lawmakers are perceived to be corrupt both home and abroad. The legislators are known to have dubious means of making money through contracts awarded for projects. Immunity for lawmakers will arm them with more confidence to loot, and then flee the country when their tenure is done, like ex-Nigerian Ministers and Governors.
2. Previous Criminal Records: As human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, puts it, “no serious nation can grant immunity to legislators who have been linked with criminal diversion of public funds, forgery and rape.” Nigerian lawmakers don’t need immunity to carry out their legislative duties. It’s hard to see how a lawmaker needs immunity to create laws that’ll move the nation forward and ensure proper governance. Senators should be tasked with creating laws, not trying to protect themselves when they break it.
3. The Senators are representatives of the people. Giving them immunity is tantamount to giving Nigerians immunity as well. They enjoy immunity within the corridors of the National Assembly and that should be enough for them.
4. If there will be immunity for the national assembly top leaders, it shouldn't come at this time when the 8th assembly is characterized with fraud and irregularities. Armed with immunity this time, will jeopardize various judicial actions against the leaders of the Senate.
5. Immunity will erode one major tenet of democracy which is accountability. Their constituents will not be able to hold them responsible for decisions Immunity will consequently make them the most powerful arm of government as the other arms; executive, judiciary will not be able to check them. this will also erode the democratic feature of checks and balances .
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The country is grappling with so many issues that need pressing solutions, this should be the debate at the assembly quarters than waggling of tongues over immunity.
According to the Nigerian constitution, Nigerian Presidents and governors are exempted from being tried for any wrong doing, as long as they are still in office. The same is not the case for the legislative arm of the country.
Nigerian senators and members of the House of Representatives at the moment will be tried, and may be jailed if found guilty of any crime. The lawmakers aren’t happy about this, and want to eat the same cake enjoyed by the executive and judiciary arms of government.
Nigerian Senators, months ago introduced the idea of amending the constitution and passing a law that top officials of the national assembly enjoy immunity. They discussed at length, bickered and argued amongst themselves over the issue.
A bill to this effect was recently introduced, and passed, during a raucous session at the House of Representatives. This is despite calls from several sections of the country against the action. The bill is set to be read the second time at the chamber before being passed to the Senate for ratification.
In a country riddled by widespread corruption and fraud, this isn't the way forward and here are five reasons why:
1. Abuse of Power: Nigerians are notorious for abuse of power, lawmakers are not an exemption. Nigerian lawmakers are perceived to be corrupt both home and abroad. The legislators are known to have dubious means of making money through contracts awarded for projects. Immunity for lawmakers will arm them with more confidence to loot, and then flee the country when their tenure is done, like ex-Nigerian Ministers and Governors.
2. Previous Criminal Records: As human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, puts it, “no serious nation can grant immunity to legislators who have been linked with criminal diversion of public funds, forgery and rape.” Nigerian lawmakers don’t need immunity to carry out their legislative duties. It’s hard to see how a lawmaker needs immunity to create laws that’ll move the nation forward and ensure proper governance. Senators should be tasked with creating laws, not trying to protect themselves when they break it.
3. The Senators are representatives of the people. Giving them immunity is tantamount to giving Nigerians immunity as well. They enjoy immunity within the corridors of the National Assembly and that should be enough for them.
4. If there will be immunity for the national assembly top leaders, it shouldn't come at this time when the 8th assembly is characterized with fraud and irregularities. Armed with immunity this time, will jeopardize various judicial actions against the leaders of the Senate.
5. Immunity will erode one major tenet of democracy which is accountability. Their constituents will not be able to hold them responsible for decisions Immunity will consequently make them the most powerful arm of government as the other arms; executive, judiciary will not be able to check them. this will also erode the democratic feature of checks and balances .
--
The country is grappling with so many issues that need pressing solutions, this should be the debate at the assembly quarters than waggling of tongues over immunity.