Ex-Governors Report Card in the Red Chamber
Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki: The immediate past governor of Kwara State (from 2003 to 2011), Saraki represents Kwara Central Senatorial District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. He is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology. He is also member of the Committees on Agriculture, Health, Capital Market, Finance, and […]
Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki: The immediate past governor of Kwara State (from 2003 to 2011), Saraki represents Kwara Central Senatorial District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. He is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology. He is also member of the Committees on Agriculture, Health, Capital Market, Finance, and Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions.
Saraki has been popular in the Red Chamber for his motion on the investigation into the fuel subsidy management. Many keep referring to him as the whistleblower of the fuel subsidy scam. The motion consequently led the Senate to mandate its joint committees on Petroleum (Downstream), Appropriation and Finance to probe the operation of the fuel subsidy scheme.
Saraki has also sponsored two bills which are the Gas Flaring (Prohibition) Bill 2012 and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency Act (NOSDRA)2006 (Amendment) Bill 2012. The NOSDRA Bill seeks to create a more proactive oil spill management and regulation system. The bill also seeks to sanction irresponsible environmental degradation caused by oil and gas exploration and sets out a penalty and elaborate compensation system to compensate people affected by oil spills.
Saraki has been visible at oversight functions and public hearings conducted by some of the committees he belongs to in the Senate. His efforts towards ensuring the successful conduct of a public hearing recently organized by his committee on Environment and Ecology on a bill for an Act to establish the Erosion Control and Prevention Commission have been considered laudable.
Those who saw Saraki as a very vibrant senator at plenary at the beginning however express surprise at his unusual calmness and quietness these days. Perhaps, he has to step up again to dispel the insinuation that he is psychologically troubled by his recent ‘ordeal’ in the hands of the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force over his alleged complicity in the N21 billion bank loan fraud at the defunct InterContinental Bank of Nigeria.
Senator Joshua Chibi Dariye: He is a former governor of Plateau State (1999-2007). He currently represents Plateau Central Senatorial District in the Senate on the platform of the Labour Party (LP). Dariye is the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and member of the Committees on Education, Marine Transport, Solid Minerals, Water Resources and Constitution Review. He is one of the few opposition senators that contribute fairly during debates at plenary.
There are people who believe that Dariye could have been able to make much more impact at plenary if he had been more frequent. He hardly opposes motions and bills sponsored by other senators, but he often introduces amendments to resolutions of the Senate on issues of debate.
Although Senator Dariye is yet to single-handedly sponsor any motion, he has so far sponsored two bills. This makes him to be one of the few senators to have done so since the inauguration of the seventh Senate. He sponsored the National Peace Council Bill 2011 and the Explosive Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill. Both bills are yet to be passed by the Senate.
Dariye’s contribution to the various committees he belongs to is yet to impress watchers of the activities of the Senate. But he was part of the Senate joint committee that recently investigated the plight of casual teachers in the various federal government colleges and unity schools across the country.
Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige: A former governor of Anambra State (from 2003 to 2006), Ngige was elected in 2011 into the Senate on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) where he currently represents Anambra Central Senatorial District. He is the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Power and Steel Development. He is also a member of the following committees: Constitution Review, Capital Market, Industries, Police Affairs, Health and Science and Technology.
Although Ngige has not sponsored any bill or motion since he became a senator, has been vibrant and visible in the Senate. His contributions at plenary are perceived to be very insightful. He is popular for always opposing unpopular bills and motions. He vehemently opposed the bill aimed at regulating labour union strikes and the request of President Goodluck Jonathan to remove Alhaji Mohammed Ari Gwaska from the Federal Character Commission. On the labour bill, Ngige said,“These unions have their own constitution, which stipulates conditions for going on strike. This Bill is dead on arrival; and because its sponsor is my friend, I wish to advise that he withdraws it,” he said. “This particular Bill is anti-people, anti-labour, anti-Senate and even anti-National Assembly”.
He is seen as a leading voice of the opposition in the hallowed chamber, but seemed to be more visible at plenary than in his committee. Ngige, according to those who believe in his capacity to make an impact in the Senate, should have explored his experience as a former state governor to initiate bills and motions that would be beneficial to the nation rather than merely oppose other senators’ motions and bills.
Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi. A former governor of Kaduna State (1999 to 2007), Makarfi was in the last Senate, and he assumed office for a second term as senator this January after the Court of Appeal affirmed the decision of the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal that declared him as winner of the April 28, 2010 senatorial election for Kaduna North Senatorial district. He is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and a member of the Committees on Agriculture, Appropriation, Aviation and Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions.
Though always very quiet and reserved especially at plenary, Makarfi is quick in inspiring the hallowed chambers for decisive decisions on national issues. For instance, during the debate on a the bill to amend the CBN Act 2007, Makarfi said there was no transparency in the financial activities of the CBN because the National Assembly did not approve the huge sums of financial bailout released to the commercial banks during financial crises.
Makarfi has not sponsored any bill in the current Senate, but has one motion to his credit. He sponsored the motion on the Violation of Aviation Laws and Practice by Foreign Airlines in Nigeria. He has also, on several occasions, sought amendments to resolutions of the Senate. For instance, on March 8, 2012, when the Senate mandated its Committee on Aviation to investigate issues relating to compliance or non-compliance with relevant aviation laws and all unwholesome activities by foreign airlines, Makarfi proposed an amendment after the word “airlines’ to insert the words “and regulatory authorities”. The amended resolution sailed through, as he suggested.
Makarfi’s views are always sought at plenary when issues bordering on finance and appropriations are at the front burner of debate. However, much is yet to be seen about his impact at the committee level. Observers advise him to be more proactive, especially in such committees as Agriculture, Aviation and Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions. Makarfi was conspicuously absent at the recent public hearing on the proposed amendment of the CBN Act. The hearing was organized by the Senate Joint Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, of which Makarfi is a member.
Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim: A three-time former governor of Yobe State (from 1992 to 1993 and from 1999 to 2007), Bukar has been in the Senate since 2007 representing Yobe East Senatorial District on the platform of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). He is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development. He is also a member of the Committees on Works and Solid Minerals.
He has not sponsored any bill or motion since the inception of the current Senate. Though an opposition senator, Bukar usually confronts Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators especially those who pass derogatory comments on the opposition. He is fond of raising points of order to kick against such comments.
Bukar is yet to sponsor any motion or bill in the seventh Senate. He merely often rises to support motions and bills sponsored by his colleagues. He likes raising issues bordering on injustice. For instance, immediately the Senate passed the bills for the establishment of the nine new federal universities, Bukar queried why Yobe State and two others have not been considered for a similar gesture.
He is said to be more committed to plenary sessions than he is to his various committees. He and members of his Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development just conducted a public hearing on Social Housing Bill. He is advised to initiate his own bills and motions rather than comfortably support and oppose those sponsored by others.
Senator Danjuma Mohammed Goje: He held sway as Gombe State Governor from 2003 to 2011 before he was elected into the Senate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last general election to represent Gombe Central Senatorial District. Goje is not a chairman of any of the 56 standing committees of the upper arm of the National Assembly, but he is the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream). He is also a member of the following committees: Capital Market, Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, Navy, Power and Steel Development, Water Resources and Works.
He has not sponsored any motion or bill, but he has severally joined many other senators in supporting bills and motions sponsored by others. Goje often enlivens the Senate with his contributions at plenary, and whenever he lends his voice to a debate, he receives rapt attention of his colleagues.
Goje has been active at the committee level, especially the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream). During an oversight visit to the Petroleum Training Institute, Efunru Warri, Delta State, Goje expressed his anger over the abandoned N20 billion projects there.
Goje is part of the Senate panel probing the fuel subsidy regime and his contributions are observed to have enriched the work of the panel. He described the the Kero-Direct Scheme of the Pipeline Products Marketing Company (PPMC) as “Kero-wayo” because the big companies corner the products and it doesn’t end with the people.”
But the mere fact that Goje has no bill or motion to his credit keeps people asking how long he will continue to remain one of the I-support-the-motion-lawmakers in the upper arm of the National Assembly.
Senator George Akume: He is a two-time former governor of Benue State (From 1999 to 2007). At present, he represents Benue North-West Senatorial District on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He is the Minority Leader of the Senate. He does not chair any committee, but he is a member of the Senate Committees on Defence and Army, Maritime Transport, Constitution Review, Science and Technology, Selection, States and Local Government.
Akume regularly attends plenary sessions, but many say he is yet to demonstrate a kind of vibrancy expected of an opposition leader in the parliament.
He is one of the senators who have not singlehandedly sponsored a single motion or bill. Akume usually supports motions and bills sponsored by others. He is known for cautioning the Upper Chamber when decisions are to be taken on sensitive issues. One of such occasions was during the debate on the request of President Goodluck Jonathan seeking the confirmation for the removal of Alhaji Muhammadu Ari Gwaska from the Federal Character Commission (FCC). Akume cautioned the Senate and stressed the need to verify the allegations levelled against Gwaska before taking a decision, saying “We have the power to carry out this request but we should conduct our own investigation before giving our approval.’’
Akume is said not to have an impressive performance at the committee level. As a member of the Senate Committee on State and Local Government, he is automatically a member of the panel probing the alleged mismanagement of pension funds, but he has never attended any of the numerous public hearings conducted by the committee.
Senator Abdullahi Adamu: A former governor of Nasarawa State (from 1999 to 2007), Adamu currently represents Nasarawa West Senatorial District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. He is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, and a member of the Committees on Air Force, Agriculture and Investment.
Senator Adamu has not sponsored any motion, but he has sponsored only one bill so far. The bill, tagged the National Council of Traditional Rulers (Establishment) Bill 2012, seeks to give traditional rulers in the country a constitutional role. The bill, which passed a second reading, recently, was supported by the majority of the senators. Leading the debate on the bill, he noted that the 1999 constitution has no provision for the traditional institution, saying that “grassroots peace, integration, communal harmony, security and meaningful national unity and good governance require that we integrate the traditional institution with political leadership in our march to modern development”.
Senator Adamu is observed to be a common voice at plenary. His contributions to debates are usually considered strong and more often than not, propel the leadership of the Senate to arrive resolutions. One of such instances was when the menace of the Boko Haram sect was being debated. Adamu warned against falling into the temptation of treating only symptoms, urging the Senate to look into the remote and immediate causes of the problem.
Adamu is however expected to have used his enormous experience and grasp of the challenges facing the nation’s economy to deepen the activities of the various committees he belongs to in the hallowed chamber.
Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya: A former governor of Kano State in the third republic (1992 to 1993), Gaya has been representing Kano South Senatorial District at the upper arm of the National Assembly on the platform of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) since 2007. At present, he is the chairman of the Senate Committee on States and Local Government. He is also a member of the Senate Committees on Special Duties, Maritime Transport and Housing and Urban Development.
Senator Gaya is seen as a strong pillar of the opposition in the Senate. He appears regularly at plenary and his contributions are considered very insightful. However, in the past one year, Gaya has not sponsored any bill or motion, but he, like many of his colleagues, has supported several motions and bills initiated and sponsored by other senators.
Senator Gaya is quite notable in the Senate for being the co-chairman of the Senate Joint Committee on Public Service and Establishment and States and Local Government Administration which recently investigated the alleged mismanagement of pension funds. He was present at the public hearing that lasted four months.
But he is believed to have abandoned his assignments in other committees for the pension probe. The Senate Committee on States and Local Government Administration, which he chairs, is seen not to have done anything to justify its existence. But now that the pension probe is over, observers say the earlier Gaya ‘resumes’ work in other committees and initiates bills and motions on the floor of the Senate, the better his chances of being rated as an outstanding lawmaker.
Senator Ahmed Rufai Sani: A former governor of Zamfara State from 1999 to 2007, Sani is a senator of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) representing Zamfara West Senatorial District. He is the Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate.
Senator Sani does not chair any committee in the Senate. He is the vice chairman of the Committee on Local and Foreign Debts. He is also a member of the Senate Committees on Selection, Special Duties, Appropriations, Housing, Culture and Tourism.
Senator Sani, though regularly present at plenary, barely contributes to debate. He has not, on his own, sponsored any bill or motion. He is also seen as one of the senators that neither support nor oppose motions and bills sponsored by others.
Observers also see Senator Sani as one of those whose contributions to the activities of the various committees of the Senate are unimpressive. He was conspicuously absent at a one-day public hearing on Social Housing Bill organized by the Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development, of which he is a member. Observers say he needs to begin to be proactive as a senator by initiating motions and sponsoring bills.
Senator Maina Ma’aji Lawan: A former governor of Borno State between 1992 and 1993, Lawan has been in the Senate since 2007. At present, he represents Borno North Senatorial District on the platform of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP).
Lawan is the chairman of the Senate Committee on National Identity and National Population. He is also a member of the Committees on Niger Delta Affairs, Navy and Finance.
Senator Lawan has never, since the inception of the current Senate, sponsored any bill or motion. Although he occasionally contributes to debates on the floor of the Senate, he is not seen as one of the senators whose contributions shape the resolutions of the Upper Chamber.
But Lawan, anytime he lends his voice to debates, would want the Senate to dig deep. An instance was during the debate on the violent activities of the Boko Haram sect when he first blamed the crisis on the initial handling of the crisis by the security agencies and noted that “bullets and boots will never solve the problems. We have to address the issue of poverty, injustice and unemployment in the country”.
Lawan is however seen as a senator that has not done well in his various committees of the Senate. The Senate Committee on National Identity and National Population is seen not to have done anything so far. Lawan was also glaringly absent at the recent oversight functions by his committee on Navy at some naval formations in the South-South geo-political zones.