In order to prevent the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives from abusing their power, a member of the House of Representatives named Hon. Mansur Manu Soro has asked for a constitutional amendment that would govern the suspension procedure of members of the National Assembly.
In a statement to reporters in Bauchi on Monday, Soro responded to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent suspension by calling it an action that compromises democratic representation.
According to reports, Soro underlined that the National Assembly’s leadership should not arbitrarily suspend a senator or member of the House of Representatives because their positions are established by the 1999 Constitution.
“Like any other senator or member of the House, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office is a creation of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended,” he said. This also holds true for the positions of Governor, President, and Chairman of Local Government.
He pointed out that the Constitution does not outline the process for suspending an elected lawmaker, even though it outlines the steps for impeaching the president, governor, and presiding officers of the National Assembly.
“Recall procedures, which are initiated by their constituents through the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), are the only constitutional provisions pertaining to the removal of lawmakers,” Soro stated.
Encourage Legislative Change
Manu Soro bemoaned the fact that such measures deprive citizens of their right to representation, citing the recent suspension of Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi (Bauchi Central Senatorial District).
“I felt terrible when my Senator, Abdul Ningi, was suspended because my constituency was deprived of its voice in the Senate,” the politician said. To address this, I have put forth a bill that would alter the 1999 Constitution and provide a transparent procedure for suspending legislators.
He clarified that the purpose of his proposed bill, “A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to regulate the process of suspending a member of the National Assembly,” is to ensure due process in the suspension of lawmakers, limit the excessive powers of the National Assembly leadership, and protect the constitutional rights of all 360 federal constituencies and 109 senatorial districts from unjust suspension.
“A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to provide for compulsory retirement of National and State Executive Members of political parties seeking elective government positions” was the second bill that Soro was proposing.
The bill seeks to foster internal democracy inside political parties and guarantee fairness in party primaries.
“Too Much Power in the Senate President’s Office”
According to Soro, the Senate President has too much authority, which makes it simple to unilaterally suspend lawmakers.
“It is easier to suspend any senator at any time due to the over-concentration of powers in the Senate President’s office,” he stated.
He emphasized the need for justice and openness and urged for a reassessment of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Code of Conduct’s appointment procedure.
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He remarked, “You don’t expect a chairman I appointed—whom I can fire at any time—to suggest sanctions against me.”
A robust legislature is essential to a functioning democracy, the lawmaker underlined, adding that capricious suspensions undermine accountability and the institution.
He came to the conclusion that a robust legislature and the protection of constituents’ rights to representation are essential for democracy to flourish.
“Only then will we be able to fulfill Nigeria’s democratic goals.”
