NLC urges Buhari not to sign controversial bills

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has decried the ‘hurried passage’ of 46 bills by the 7th National Assembly Senate, urging the President not to grant assent to the passed bills.

According to the Union in a statement made available to The Guardian and signed by its President, Ayuba Wabba, the swift passage of the bills without passing through the accepted rudiments of legislation reflects the lawmakers alleged disdain for the nation.

Specifically, it alleged that the lawmakers through their ‘nefarious act’ have not only ridiculed the image of the country in the comity of nations but have equally exposed their lack of interest and commitment to the growth and wellbeing of the Nigerian state.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress wishes to express its profound shock and disappointment at the action of the National Assembly in the dying hours in the lifespan of the 7th National Assembly. The Senate, apparently competing for the Guinness Book of Records for legislative infamy, passed 46 bills “without legislation” in ten minutes, while the House of Representatives took turn the next day to pass 14 bills transmitted to it by the Senate, without following the regular legislative procedures.
 
Whoever advised our lawmakers to take this reckless path to lawmaking has only succeeded in putting an indelible dent on whatever achievements that the 7th session of the National Assembly wished to be ascribed to it.

By this singular action, our distinguished and honourable lawmakers have not only displayed gross disdain for the philosophy of lawmaking in a democratic setting, they have even more so exposed their manifest lack of interest in and commitment to the wellbeing of the country.

They have by so doing, apart from ridiculing themselves, also unfortunately embarrassed the country in the eyes of the civilised global community”, NLC said.
 
By skipping the first, second and third reading process, as well as the public hearing on these bills, the NLC alleged that, the lawmakers have denied Nigerians the basic opportunity to interrogate the desirability or otherwise of these bills.

“In the light of the cavalier manner in which these bills were passed, the Congress wishes to, with all sense of responsibility, call on Mr. President not to sign them into law. He should instead return them to the incoming 8th National Assembly to be subjected to proper legislative procedures”.

Meanwhile, the union in a congratulatory message to the new 8th National Assembly expressed its willingness to collaborate with them in the interest of good governance in the country.

“In line with the current popular mood of the country for change, the NLC expects the incoming legislature to depart from the opaque ways of the previous sessions of the National Assembly. Congress, and indeed Nigerians, expect the incoming legislators to be prudent, accountable, transparent and more effective in their legislative and oversight functions.

In this respect, it will be in the public interest if the huge resources committed to members welfare and other pecks of office, are reviewed drastically downward in line with our current economic realities and re-directed to more demanding areas of the economy in the overall interest of all.