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By Emman Ovuakporie
After a two month annual recess, the National Assembly may urgently look into pressing national issues such as the state of insecurity in the North East, the controversial Water Resources Bill, Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB and other national issues.
Thenewsguru.com, TNG in this brief analysis x-rays the various issues that may shape NASS agenda as Nigerians grapple under the weight of economic hardship imposed by the FG.
During its annual recess, so many ugly developments had cropped up that urgently need the attention of Nigerian lawmakers.
Still basking in the image of a rubber stamp legislature designed as anything flies, provided is from Mr President, the upper legislative Chambers may need to firm up as the issues at stake could further throw Nigeria 50years behind.
Insecurity in the North East took a dangerous dimensions last weekend as within 24hours, Borno Governor, Babagana Zulum’s convoy was attacked twice by Boko Haram insurgents.
The third attack within a space of three months that the number one citizen and Chief Security Officer of Borno State escaped death by the whiskers.
This calls for a lot of rethinking about insecurity across Nigeria as some roads like Kaduna-Abuja road and Lokoja-Abuja express are now headquarters of kidnappers.
Nobody is spared because the rich also cry as they must ply the roads to connect their homes and constituencies as the case maybe.
Disappointed by the deliberate refusal of the Federal Government to sack the longest serving Service chiefs in Nigeria, the North East elders last week for the umpteenth time demanded for their sack.
This as usual will get no response from the Muhamnadu Buhari led administration that believes loyalty of uniformed men must be retained till 2023.
Water Bill:
The controversial Water Bill that was miraculously passed through the backyard in the House of Representatives is one legislative piece that must be properly x-rayed by the Senate.
The Bill which contravenes the Land Use Act is one piece of legislation that will either properly wear the ninth Assembly the full garb of a rubber stamp legislature or rubbish all the good things this Assembly stood for.
Opposition that could even push for it to be killed in the Green Chamber is still lumbering since the inception of the ninth House.
Deregulation:
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC did not disappoint Nigerians as it was expected that as usual nothing meaningful could have been achieved if the planned strike to force government to reverse price of fuel that was jerked up from N145 to N162 had commenced.
Market forces will now determine the prices of fuel at the detriment of Nigerians who predominantly live below $1 per day.
This singular increase has made virtually every consumable item double in prices since it was slammed on Nigerians.
PIB:
The Methuselah Bill in Nigeria, unarguably the oldest bill in this clime, finally, will be passed by this ninth Assembly after its snail like speed of over 20years.
This ninth legislative body is capable of performing miracles and both leaders of Assembly have repeatedly vowed to speedily pass it when crude oil is fast losing its relevance in the world order.
Nigerians are patiently waiting for the miraculous passage.
Restructuring of Nigeria:
Again, the call to restructure Nigeria has mounted the centre stage. It’s no longer a jocular issue.
A group in the South West has vowed to embark on a peaceful rally on October First, the day the Union Jack was lowered.
Questions are being asked about the validity of 1914 Amalgamation of Nigeria.
At sixtty, definitely Nigeria is no longer a beautiful bride and the question of the marriage that made Nigeria possible remains one big question that’s begging for attention.
The question on the lips of many Nigerians is whether this ninth Assembly can midwife Nigeria via its many lackluster constitutional reviews which is every four years sacrificial offering?
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