Opinion
THE STRUCTURAL AND ETHICAL CRISIS OF NIGERIA’S DEMOCRATIC DISPENSATION AND WHY THE SUFFERINGS MAY CONTINUE
At a time when most Nigerians were busy getting worried over critical issues of insecurity (over 500 souls abducted in Borno, Kaduna and Sokoto during the week) and the government’s planned merger and /or scrapping of some parastatals/departments, curtesy Oronsaye Report 2012, the National Assembly got unethically busy squabbling over “money” and budget padding. The said squabble which started with “point of order”, raised by a member soon snowballed to accusations and counter accusations. The senator accused the ranking members of cornering N500 million each, without extending the same gesture to the rookies. The drama was so intense that mics were muted (mute the mic!) to cut out the viewing public.
A similar drama ensued when another Senator who happened to be the Chair of Northern Senators caucus, accused the leadership of the Assembly of over N3 trillion padding in the 2024 national budget. He so wished to let the nation know about the unwholesome act. This attempt didn’t go well with the Executive and of course the Senate leadership which not only denied the allegations but saw it as an affront slapping the “belligerent” senator with 3-months suspension. The Senator sensed betrayal from some of his co travellers and consequently resigned the Chairmanship of the group honourably.
The said Senator may not get all the facts right but certainly not the principles. The budgets of about ten agencies that include the INEC, NNDC, NEDC, TETFUND, NASS, the Judiciary etc may be on first line charge, according to the Senate Chair on Appropriation, but that doesn’t preclude them from scrutiny. Their combined allocations of over N3 trillion should not come in as an appendage for the sake of transparency. Though it was obvious that some influential individuals may still “follow the money”. The acrimony therefore could just be a prelude to the grand “corruption festival” that may soon commence in those agencies.
Acrimony over personal interests, indeed has largely characterised operations of the Nigerian Legislature since the first Republic. This was regardless of whether the nation was operating the Parliamentary or Presidential system of government. The recent showdown was a case of history repeating itself, which left many Nigerians with a deje’vu feeling. Democracy in action you may say. Wrong! One, the honourable members’ preoccupation with matters of money debases the values of the hallowed chamber as a democratic institution. Two, the legislative business for which they were elected, ultimately is compromised with serious negative consequences on national development and stability.
The question was, why has democracy proven difficult to operate in Nigeria? Better still why do Nigerians find democracy too challenging to practice? The answers lie in the very complex nature of liberal democracy itself, plus the socioeconomic and ethical “conditions” of the people.
Democracy according to Webster, is “a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.”
A former US president, Abraham Lincoln, simplified the definition by saying democracy is “a government of the people, by the people and for the people”. The principles and variations in the democratic system of government are many with the basic ones being separation of powers, universal suffrage, freedom of expression and justice.
The USA subscribed to the Presidential system as far back as 1789. About 245 years ago. The experiences garnered enabled the US to change from being a British overseas colony to the most powerful country on planet Earth, with a $23 trillion GDP. The success of democracy in the US was largely made possible by the existence of strong institutions like the Judiciary and the Congress. In adopting liberal democracy the US Congress provided a good conceptual guide.
For all its wealth and size, the US Congress is made up of 100 Senators (2 per state) and 435 in the House of Representatives. Members of the two Chambers serve as representatives of about 340 million people from the 50 states and the District of Colombia where Washington, the State capital is located . The Executive Cabinet has 26 members comprising the President, the VP, 15 heads of departments and 10 Cabinet level officers. So portable. Today the USA is the paragon of democracy and democratic governance.
The USA model was what Nigeria adopted having made a failed attempt at the Parliamentary system in the first republic (1960-1966). In copying the American Presidential system of government, Nigeria seems to have made a mess of it through the establishment of a comparatively more cumbersome structures and also failure to properly define and abide by the principles of the separation of powers inherent in the American constitution.
Nigeria may legitimately wish to aspire to the American democratic standards but this ought to be done within the context of its resource base. Nigeria’s GDP of about $440 billion is too low to support the US-type democratic system . Thus a good sense of proportion should have been part of the guiding principles in the adoption and adaption of the American style presidential system of government.
With a population of 200 million and about, $440 billion GDP, by comparative ratios, Nigeria should not have more than 27 states in contrast to the current 37 . The Senators per state should come down to 2 (as against 3). The members in the House of Representatives should be trimmed to 6 per state . This will bring down the total number of legislators in the NASS to 159, comprising 55 senators (2 × 27 states plus 1 for Abua) and 104 (6 × 27 + 2 for Abuja).
The country’s Cabinet should as well be trimmed down by half from the more than 50 members to 25 or thereabout. The US from where Nigeria borrowed the model has only 26 members in the Cabinet. Similar exercise should be visited upon the states and the LGAs..
The wisdom and rational behind this was that, the size of the Nigerian economy in fact represents a fraction of the GDPs of some of the US states of Texas ($2 trillion), California ($3.2 trillion), New York City ($2 trillion), Florida ($1.2 trillion). Nigeria would be in the league of medium size states of Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota and Tennessee, that have about $450 billion economies (Ref; US Bureau of Economic Analysis and Regional Economic Accounts, 2023). Nigeria therefore has no business copying the American model line, hook and sinker. It is too poor to do that.
In the words of S. Lipset, a famous US scholar, “democracy is the direct result of economic growth and that a well-to-do nation has the greater chance that it will sustain democracy”. The Nigerian economy is far from being developed, just as its human capital. The latter, being the enabler of development. Granted there has been improvements in literacy level in Nigeria but content of learning has not been brought to bear on nation’s developmental needs effectively.
The uninformed cannot hold Government accountable and the Government too cannot count on their patriotism. Those educated enough may not rise above the cultures/faith that shaped their worldview. The law makers as part of this educated groups, and whose duty it was, to legislate for good governance have since lost it or jettison this role for hot chase of money, seemingly. In the pursuit of pecuniary interest, they seem to have simply turned the NASS into a “Business Center”. Legislative concepts such as; “oversight function” “constituency project interventions” and “nominee confirmation exercise” have all been turned upside down.
The constituency projects concept copied from the controversial US Congress’ Earmark/Pork Barrell scheme earmarks about 1% of the budget to be expended in Members’ constituencies/districts. It has never been a popular programme and on occasions, stopped even in a saner clime like the USA. Many actually liken it to a slush fund.
The corruption surrounding confirmation hearing for government nominees is an open secret. Ex Governor El Rufai openly accused some of them for asking him to pay bribe in millions during his confirmation hearing to be Minister. An otherwise beautiful legislative concept turned into a tool of extortion/corruption. Many are preoccupied with how to maximise budgetary allocations to the NASS for personal gains while some members go after MDAs to seek for contract so approved using subtle threats.
This is in addition to the insertion of capital projects in the MDAs’ activities to be executed through proxies. A lot of such contracts were paid for, even though never fully executed. Some even constitute themselves into one-man labour exchange market chasing vacancies for loyalists at the expense of more deserving applicants.
The bizarre disposition of some of the Honourable members went full display when government, on account of the astronomically rising cost of living nationwide was forced to come with up palliative measures. The NASS members (most) went for the kill just like Sharks smell blood. They collected money for the exercise and became “traders” and “distributors” of basic needs. They dispersed into the field buying and/or bagging rice, indomie, beans etc. Others became busy buying sewing machines, blenders, generators, Keke NAPEP, motorcycles and taxis as part of their constituency projects. Some, unethically or even criminally rebranding the items to deceive the innocent masses.
Question was, where did they get this model of legislation and development from? When did law making give way to distributing palliative or duplicating Executive functions of policy execution? The major role of the Legislature is to make laws that would forestall economic meltdown and the security of the nation and not to be in the field addressing the symptoms of same. As for the Executive, funding the NASS material cravings makes her complicit. It is an aberration that adds to the huge bills of running liberal democracy in the country.
Already the “big government” (36 States plus the FCT and the 774 LGSs) constitutionally foisted on Nigeria’s $440 billion GDP economy has put a drag on the nation’s development. The Presidential model as so copied and recklessly expanded had made the system top-heavy. So heavy and extremely expensive that Nigeria even under the best of circumstances could ill afford. With an average of 70% of the country’s budget expended on recurrent (overhead) activities and debt servicing, the nation is simply underdeveloping itself. Thirty percent (30%) capital provision cannot successfully drive the economy of over 200 million. The situation becomes worse when the endemic corruption among members of the NASS and the other arms of government are factored into the national resource constraints. Ex President OBJ aptly captured the corruption and corruptive disposition in the NASS as thus ; it is a “den of corruption by a gang of unarmed robbers” and populated by people some of whom should be in jail . Some of the cabals specialise in the fraudulent acts of budget padding, contract chasing, and employment racketeering, among others. OBJ made this public rebuke while addressing the National Assembly in 2017.
The gory picture of the Legislature painted by OBJ has since gone from bad to worse. Some of the culprits through extensive networking with the Executive arm and the private sector have turned corruption into a way of life and making good governance and development near impossible to achieve. It is necessary to take a dispassionate look at the nation’s model of democracy along with its structures and ethical underpinnings to forestall its ultimate collapse. The signs cannot be any clearer.
A. G. Abubakar
agbarewa@gmail.com
By Kassim Omomia
We have watched Ben Okezie Kalu the deputy speaker of the House with all admiration. He exudes humour, humility and hardwork.
Kalu did not catch our glimpse from the wrong side but from a prism of competence, dedication and above all patriotism in his legislative duties. Even though we may not have a full grasp of Okezie’s elementary political life up till his ascension to the exalted office of Deputy speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria, but it is on record that he served extremely well and meritoriously when as a first time member of the House of Representatives he was chairman Media and Publicity committee, doubling as spokesperson and image maker.
Okezie stirred the House public outlook to the approval of Nigerians and the outside world,comparing that unit of the Nigerian bicameral legislature he managed its image to world parliaments, like the US Congress and the British House of Common,among others. At home, the House of Representatives earned “the Peoples Parliament” accolade “.
Recalling Okezie’s past,the nostalgia breeds excitement and a continuous commitment to legislative and representatives’ service to his people and the country.
Albeit these well delivered services, his underscoring accomplishments were reinforced by his promotion and advancement to the post of Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, a divine elevation to yet, many exalted offices to come.Kalu qualifies to be governor, and Vice President, even the President of this great country ,if young men are roundly supported for such enviable positions.
Notwithstanding, his Bills , motions are not watery but of immense value to democratic governance, systemic reforms and overall growth and welfare of Nigerians. Call it democratic dividends, the Bende constituents have never had it so good, until now. Similarly his quest for a people’s constitution brings to fore his worthy contributions in the current alteration of the1999 Constitution exercise which he midwife’s for the House of Representatives. He speaks continually about a people’s inclusiveness in people’s document. He speaks about equity, justice and fairness for all. He’s concerned about security, a community policing strategy where states look critically into domestic security and policing. Okezie speaks for all: about good life for Nigerians, not only the Abia people he represents.
Curiously, I have also come in good terms and stead with his leadership style, especially his legislative prowess in presiding, either as Speaker in Chair or Chairman at the Committee of Whole”,a serious and critical aspect of legislative business, where reports become laws made by the parliament. At this critical level of legislative engagement, Ben Okezie Kalu has performed extremely well ,surpassing past deputies. This scoring is without prejudice or gainsaying but with all modesty.
I have written about parliamentary activities,from plenary to investigative hearings, to deliberations and considerations of reports , either in Committee of Supply for money issues -budgets etc, since 2000. I have also been privileged to sit for longer periods listening from the gallery, deliberations at the “Committee of Whole’, a tedious and significant session of legislative processes and never seeing a deputy speaker as pragmatic and intelligent like Kalu. it takes a Chair that is not lazy but with dexterity, humility, patience and resilience to succeed in any report consideration at the “Committee of Whole”.And one former deputy speaker who comes close to Kalu in assesment was Hon Lasun.But with this current Deputy Speaker, the magic wand to navigate these trying moments where every member appears uninterested in their legislative function, is unprecedented.
Two manoeuvres that beat my imagination and exhibit Kalu’s superb style is his smooth management of deliberations and final consideration of the 2025 Electoral.Amendment Bill and the passage of the 2026-2028 MTEF and FSP, on Thursday December 18 2025, few moments to the 2026 Budget presentation by President Ahmed Tinubu to the joint session of the National Assembly.
His mental alertness, understanding of the subject matter, his assessment of the mood and psyche of the members and his strategic demeanour coupled with the patience and resilient approachas well as his humility, diplomacy in getting an unwilling session sit for hours, unknowingly to the members that they had sat for so long and passed a record two critical national assignments, still leaves even the members amiss how it began but ended well.
For over two weeks now, there have been several adjournments to consider the Electoral amendment Bill. The constraints at times point to the inconsequential number of members in session , or when there’s a seeming quorum, inertia and unwillingness sets in.
According to checks, members’ lacklustre attitude in these ending times, come from failed promises from the executive branch such that it was gathered that the lawmakers were adjourning for the yuletide break without cash -backings.This development not only worries the legislators who are at a loss over how to satify their insatiable constituents during the Christmas festivities, but has resulted to the lethargy displayed by them in carrying out their statutory duties of law making . Fears are that, the members may not chorus “on your mandate we stand”, going forward, especially on 19 Friday December 2025, when the President presents his 2026 budget to the joint session of the National Assembly
While the outcome of that session is awaited, the success gained in the House of Representatives for completing and finally passing the MTEF/FSP in record time and upon which premise President Tinubu submits the 2026 Appropriation Bill, after the Senate hurriedly put out their own since Tuesday evening,underscores the goodwill the deputy speaker enjoys from his colleagues,expectedy due to his humility and resilience,such that in over six- unstoppable hours, he successfully managed a tensed session to effectively pass the MTEF and Electoral.amenment Bill. This is all kudos to a young PAN- Nigerian legislator in our hearts
That Ben Okezie Kalu displays an uncommon leadership acumen, which promotes unity and which with he won the hearts of all who sat in plenary on that faithful Thursday 18 2025,is an understatement . This is so because all the lawmaker at that Thursday session,wether Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba,Edo, TIV ,Idoma,Gbagy and of course Ibo were in sync with, aligning with his master stroke with which he chaired that earlier unpredictable session that later became a huge success. I have a dream that Ben Okezie Kalu shall accomplish more in his political career, given his character, competence and leadership capacity.
He will excel beyond this time, tide and position. Ben Okezie Kalu is the lawmaker in our hearts and qualifies for our award as ‘ A Legislature- Exemplar’ even as we watch him deliver again during the final voting of the alteration to the 1999 constitution ( As Ammended) in the days to come.
Kassim Omomia of the Bigeyeonline writes from Abuja
By James Itodo
The Nigerian oil and gas sector, since its discovery, exploration, and exploitation at the turn of the century, has become the goose that lays the golden egg, likened only to the much-sought-after bride.
This is because oil, and later gas, remained the main economic sustainer, accounting for virtually all the revenue utilised for the economic sustainability and stability of the country—a nation driven by a monolithic economy.
Various attempts at sustaining its viability failed because those reforms lacked the necessary ingredients and the political will of their drivers to succeed. Moreover, the temptation of the enormous amounts generated, and the ease of generating this revenue, became stronger than the moral responsibility and patriotic devotion of the country’s leaders, causing various rulers to rely completely on oil while abandoning or ignoring agriculture and every other means of generating revenue, including all forms of diversification and integration.
The present Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) was born out of necessity: first, to inherit the abnormalities of the past; and second, to set in motion reforms aimed at effectively repositioning the sector. Key among these is strong political will and the appropriate sensitisation of the country’s political leaders to look beyond oil and gas revenue and think towards diversification.
To carry this out effectively, there is a need to build trust and confidence on the fulcrum of accountability and transparency.
So far, the verdict has been positive. The basic recipe for repositioning and bringing about a volte-face in the sector is now present: accountability and transparency.
A new era, based on a better concept of transparency and accountability, is enhancing the effective repositioning of the Nigerian oil and gas sector, which will work for the overall benefit of all citizens and indeed residents.
Today, Nigerians are now seeing the oil and gas sector as a blessing, with transparency and accountability becoming the fulcrum of operations at the NUPRC.
There is no doubt that, for decades, Nigeria’s oil and gas sector was a cesspit of abhorrent and odious corruption, coupled with mismanagement—a centre of graft, earning the moniker “resource curse.”
Instead of bringing blessings to the country, it became an avenue for self-aggrandisement and self-enrichment at the detriment of national interest, economic growth, prosperity, and development.
As a whole, the sector’s opacity and lack of accountability led to widespread corruption, where the few who had access to this national wealth enriched themselves and their families—buying choice houses at highly exorbitant prices in prime cities of the world and sending their children to schools abroad on ear-splitting school fees, all with our common patrimony—at the expense of the country. This resulted in environmental degradation and human rights abuses, leaving citizens with little to show for the country’s vast oil resources, world oil production status, and its derived and associated wealth.
However, a new dawn has emerged with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) leading a rescue mission to reposition the sector with renewed vigour, intentionality, and patriotic commitment under the leadership of Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, who has turned the NUPRC into a beacon of hope for Nigerians.
Unambiguously, the NUPRC’s commitment to transparency is demonstrated through its proactive disclosure of key industry data—which had previously been shrouded in obscurity—including production figures, revenue streams, and contract awards.
The demystification and openness of this key information have greatly enhanced the fostering of trust and confidence among stakeholders, including local communities, civil society organisations, and international partners.
Another signature reform is the strengthening and implementation of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), which ensures that oil and gas revenues are transparently tracked and accounted for, thereby reducing corruption and ensuring that revenues are channelled for the overall benefit of all citizens.
Projecting the ideals of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu-led administration, the NUPRC has also prioritised increased utilisation of local content development, bringing on board many more Nigerian companies to participate in the oil and gas value chain, thereby creating more jobs, stimulating economic growth, and empowering local communities.
The sector’s transformation is an unequivocal demonstration of the power of transparency and accountability.
Daily, Nigerians are beginning to see oil and gas resources as a direct blessing rather than a curse, with a sector and operators poised to drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve living standards.
However, this is just the beginning; the journey is far from over, and the best is yet to come—for all of us.
While Nigerians holistically embrace these reforms, they must also continue to demand transparency and accountability from their leaders, while the NUPRC’s efforts must be supported and sustained to ensure that the sector remains a catalyst for national development.
There is no doubt that the oil and gas sector can be a powerful catalytic tool for poverty reduction, wealth creation, and economic transformation. This can be imminently and necessarily achieved when the NUPRC continues in its commitment to transparency and accountability, predicated on the resilience of Nigerians, who will look forward to a brighter future where their natural resources work for them, not against them.
It must be a collaborative and conscientious responsibility of all Nigerians not only to support the NUPRC’s efforts and reforms targeted at transforming the oil and gas sector but also to demand consistent transparency and accountability from our leaders, as this will ensure that our natural resources benefit all Nigerians, securing a brighter future for Nigeria and Nigerians.
Itodo writes from Abuja
The Tiv Supreme Council has announced that former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kaase Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, will be conferred with the Ivaaniyange chieftaincy title.
The title, according to the Council, recognizes individuals considered to have made notable contributions to the advancement and welfare of the Tiv people.
Chief Aondoakaa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, currently serves in various public and private sector roles, including Chairman, Endowment Fund Raising Committee at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi. He also provides advisory support on foreign investment, entrepreneurship, and agricultural development. He is associated with the West African Rice Processors Association (WARIA) and the Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RIPAN).
He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and the International Bar Association.
Associates describe him as a supporter of youth development and educational advancement. According to persons familiar with his philanthropic activities, he has supported scholarship initiatives and facilitated opportunities for several indigent beneficiaries over the years.
The Tiv Supreme Council stated that the new honour acknowledges what it views as his years of service in legal, governance, and agricultural sectors. The Council expressed confidence that he will continue to contribute to community development following the conferment.
Chief Aondoakaa previously received a traditional chieftaincy title, Tsar-U-Tiv Mba Sha Nasarawa, from the Mutual Union of Tiv People in Nasarawa State in 2008.
He has participated in various international engagements across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, the Americas, and Africa, representing Nigeria in official and professional capacities. He has also been recognised with awards by different organisations for what they described as service and excellence.
Chief Aondoakaa is a practicing Catholic and is married with children.
The formal conferment of the Ivaaniyange title is expected to hold in Makurdi on a date to be officially issued by the Council.
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