The Chairman of the International Law Association (ILA) Arbitration Committee, Dr. Tolu Aderemi, has made a call, asking that Nigerian Legislators should engage in their activities on a part-time basis.
Aderemi, the Director of the Justice Aderemi Annual Lecture Series (JAALS Foundation), in his address at the 6th JAALS Annual Conference, raised question on issues of concern arising in qualifications and effectiveness of Nigerian Lawmakers.
“The quality of debate and overall effectiveness of our legislative arm is simply extraordinary and not in a good way. When you look at the qualifications, parliamentary procedures, and policy outcomes in other countries, it’s clear Nigeria’s National Assembly is lagging,” he said.
Aderemi, who dissected the differences in the legislature of various countries, one of which is the educational requirements, added that while Ghana, the U.S. and Singapore all have minimum age and citizenship criteria for their legislators; Nigeria stands alone in also mandating a secondary school certificate or equivalent. Aderemi argued that academic qualification could help ensure a higher calibre of lawmakers, but it may also exclude many qualified citizens from serving.
He also highlighted the stark contrasts between parliamentary debates and overall legislative effectiveness, praising the U.S. Congress for its policy focus and bipartisanship and Singapore’s parliament, which is known for its efficiency and consensus-building approach.
In contrast, he said Nigeria’s National Assembly is often characterized by “heated exchanges and lack of focus on policy changes,” with limited time dedicated to substantive debates. This dynamic is reflected in the legislature’s handling of critical issues like the budget approval process and security legislation.
Aderemi drew a favourable comparison to the Scottish parliament, where lawmakers are provided dedicated spaces to “think” when debates become heated – a luxury seemingly absent in Nigeria’s legislative chambers.
“We want the Nigerian legislative system to be improved, but that will require fundamental changes from the qualification requirements to the rules of procedure and overall expectations placed on our lawmakers,” Aderemi said
In conclusion, he posited that the structure of the system is clearly problematic, but the calibre and dedication of our legislators are also very much in question. Holistic reforms are needed to strengthen the National Assembly and ensure it can truly serve the needs of the Nigerian people.
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