Commonwealth Speakers’ Confab: When presiding officers agree on building consensus in parliament

For four days, 33 presiding officers of the Parliaments of 25 countries converged in Kampala, Uganda, for the 27th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC).  CSPOC was created in 1969 as an initiative of the then Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, the Honourable Lucien Lamoureux, to strengthen parliamentary […]

For four days, 33 presiding officers of the Parliaments of 25 countries converged in Kampala, Uganda, for the 27th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC). 

CSPOC was created in 1969 as an initiative of the then Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, the Honourable Lucien Lamoureux, to strengthen parliamentary institutions by bringing together speakers and presiding officers from across the Commonwealth countries.

Declared open by the President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri K. Museveni, this year’s conference was held at the Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo, Kampala, from January 3rd to 6th.

Topics of discourse at the conference focused on the environment and climate change, diverse and inclusive Parliaments, security for Parliaments and the role of Speakers and Presiding Officers in building consensus for parliamentary business. 

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The Deputy President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, presented a paper during a special plenary session titled, “Building Consensus for Parliamentary Business: The Role of Speakers and Presiding Officers”.

During the session, the presiding officers took turns to share experiences on how best to build consensus for rancour-free parliaments. 

The Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, Anita Annet Among, chaired the session while the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, India, Hon. Harivansh Narayan Singh, was the keynote speaker. 

Setting the tone for the discussion, Hon. Singh said consensus building is crucial to the success of a parliament, and urged all the presiding officers to always promote it. 

According to him, the flexibility of the parliament to accommodate diverse opinions is the hallmark of the legislature. Thus, he said all shades of opinion need to be carried along.

Delivering his paper, Senator Barau said the role of presiding officers in building consensus for parliamentary business is multifaceted and essential.

Represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Barau described the role of presiding officers as a complex tapestry woven from order, fairness, consensus and leadership.

Barau stated: “These individuals stand as champions of democracy, ensuring that the voices of the people are heard, respected and reflected in the legislative process. In an age of rising political polarisation, their ability to build bridges, broker compromises and foster collaboration is more vital than ever.

“It is through their dedication and skill that parliaments can truly embody the very spirit of democracy, a testament to the power of dialogue, consensus and the collective will of the people.

“By delving deeper into this multifaceted role, a greater appreciation for the critical contribution of Speakers and Presiding Officers to the health and vibrancy of our democratic systems is upheld. Their tireless efforts lay the foundation for a future where diverse voices are heard, compromises are forged, and the common good prevails.”

To strengthen the parliament, he advocated for the enhancement of social capital networking between the presiding officers and other lawmakers.

“The issue of the social capital network is very significant. As a leader, you ought to improve your social capital network. For example, our coming to gather here today has developed a lot of social capital networks on which we can capitalise and have a very robust Parliament.

“The same thing at home; Parliamentarians and leaders of the Assembly should ensure that they develop a social capital network.,” the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate stated.

The President of the Senate of Grenada, Hon Dessima Williams, threw her weight behind Barau, saying presiding officers will learn a lot from it.