Sanni Onogu, Abuja
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami on Thursday met with the leadership of the National Assembly. They discussed how to develop a working relationship that would ensure seamless passage of bills.
For about an hour at the National Assembly, Malami met with Senate President Ahmad Lawan; House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and some principal officers of the Red Chamber.
In a statement by Lawan’s Special Assistant Ezrel Tabiowo, Malami was quoted as telling his hosts that “the major issue of interest to the government is having a harmonious working relationship that is targeted at advancing the interest of the nation.
“He added that it was against this background that several bills were proposed during the 8th National Assembly, while additional ones will be presented during the 9th National Assembly.
“Malami expressed concerns that several bills presented to the eighth National Assembly were never passed nor assented to because of certain inadequacies or constitutional issues.
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“Enormous resources, energy and cost have gone into legislative process of lawmaking, and I feel the time is now right for us to work together for the purpose of eliminating the associated bottlenecks that have constituted hindrances to the passage of the bills and assenting thereto.
“My approach is to look at the possibility of working together between the executive and legislature; and where the need arises, the judiciary, in working on the bills before they proceed to the stages of public hearing.
“We cannot afford to expend resources, time and energy in formulating and drafting bills that will eventually not be passed or assented.”
Malami suggested, as a way forward, sending advance legislative proposals for possible review and inputs of the lawmakers even before the final consideration of the draft bill by the executive.
In his response, the Senate President described the meeting as an “historic engagement” and commended the approach of the Executive.
Lawan said the cordial relationship between the Executive and the National Assembly should be one driven by mutual respect and consultation between both arms of government.
He said: “Our relationship should be based on mutual respect and consultation. This is a clear demonstration of the kind of consultation we have been talking about.
“We shouldn’t work at cross-purposes; and beyond bills, we need to extend the consultation to other spheres of engagements for us to achieve optimal performance.”
“This shows the kind of relationship that characterise the ninth National Assembly and the Executive arm of government, which essentially is for the benefit of Nigerians, the people we represent.”
To ensure a hitch-free passage of bills, the National Assembly leadership and the AGF underscored the need for committees to be constituted on both sides of government for the purpose of engagement.
Lawan said: “If there’s anything we identify that will cause us not to pass a bill, we will draw the attention of the executive to it and mandate our relevant committees to engage with the concerned agency and the AGF’s office so that all such issues are sorted out. We should have our bills assented to, whether they are executive bills or private members’ bills.
“This relationship is productive so far, it is working and helping this country and we will continue with it. However, that is not to say that we will compromise on things that are our mandate.”
He called on the AGF to ensure that heads of agencies are carried along in the process of drafting executive bills to avoid sabotage from any quarter.
Lawan said: “I want to advise, that when an executive bill emanates from you, exhaust all opportunities for heads of agencies that will be affected by the eventual passage of the Bill into law to participate.
“Let them put in their ideas before you roundup work on the draft that will be sent to the National Assembly for consideration.”
In attendance were: Senate Leader Yahaya Abdullahi; Deputy Minority Leader Ajayi Boroffice; Deputy Chief Whip Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi; Deputy Minority Leader Emmanuel Bwacha; Deputy Minority Whip Sahabi Ya’u Alhaji; Senator Albert Bassey (PDP, Akwa-Ibom North), and Senator James Manager (PDP, Delta South).
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