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Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, on Thursday, stated that Nigeria was moving backward, saying “there was a time the nation passed through the challenges it is currently facing, especially in terms of insecurity, corruption and other vices that have been on the increase in this country.”
To this end, the Speaker, urged the new leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to call politicians to order in the build- up to the 2015 elections slated for February.
The Speaker stated this when he received the NBA leadership, led by its national president, Mr Augustine Alegeh, on a courtesy visit to his office.
He stated that the time had come for the new leadership to move and “ensure that politicians play the game according to the rules, and that good governance is instituted.”
Earlier in his remarks, Mr Alegeh urged the Speaker to ensure speedy passage of the PIB, even if it means removing some grey areas which could be taken care of through future alterations.
The NBA chairman also requested that the association be offered the opportunity to hold technical sessions on any proposed law underway in the parliament.
Meanwhile, the Speaker Honourable Tambuwal, on Thursday, disclosed that the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), as presently constituted had failed to meet the purpose for which it was established, saying “the failure of ombudsman in our country contributes to the failure of government institutions in Nigeria.”
The Speaker stated this while declaring open a one-day public hearing on “The Bill for an Act to Establish the Public Complaints Commission” with wide powers to inquire into complaints by members of the public concerning the administrative actions of any public authority and companies or their officials.”
According to him, “The failure of ombudsman in our country contributes to the failure of government institutions in Nigeria. The consequence is that it has transformed into a citizenry with a lot of grievances against government.”
To this end, he said “Having fully scrutinised the bill, I have no doubt that if enacted into Law, it will open a new vista in the regime of ombudsman in Nigeria.
Noticeable weakness in the Act, he noted, had, to a great extent, stultified the effective and efficient working of the commission.
Said he, ‘The Commission as an Ombudsman was created with high degree of independence to oversight the activities of government Ministries, Agencies and Departments. Its main purpose being to represent the interest of the Public by investigating and addressing complaints of maladministration and violation of citizens rights.
“Permit me to say further that the failure of the Ombudsman in Nigeria contributes greatly to the high incidence of impunity in governance by government officials and agencies. This is because the avenue for citizens to vent their grievances against official misdeed and corruption has greatly been curtailed.
“Indeed, sadly enough, instead of the Ombudsman in Nigerian remaining the official advocate of the citizens right and detached from the mainstream administration it has acquiesced into one of the arms of the Executive and virtually capitulated on its unique status in the administration”, he stated.
In his welcome address, chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Uzo Azubuike, said that, “The public hearing on the bill, like the previous ones, is aimed at updating our statutory institutions to enhance their effective performance. With my knowledge of the working of the public complaints commission, I dare say that the commission more than others, requires close instrumentalities, to make it functional and amiable to the need of the citizens and the society in general.
“Our concern in today’ public hearing is to seek public opinion and input in the nagging issue of poor service delivery by the public complaints commission”.
Source: Tribune
