The mace mess and threats to democracy

Nineteen years into the fourth attempt at civil-democratic governance in Nigeria, major threats are beginning to emerge. Ironically the threats are manifesting in the one place that actually signposts representative government and the essence of democracy: the parliament. All parties must be alert to the dangers and take steps to ensure these the tares do not submerge the flowers. Citizens in particular need to pay attention and engage.
The stealing of the mace on April 18 has raised many questions in the public sphere about the security architecture and processes in the National Assembly. Citizens have also worried about the attitude and commitment of the Senators who watched as the thugs strolled in and took the symbol of legislative authority without even a dissenting voice shouting. Then they walked through the strong police and other security establishment of the legislative house without any restraint.
The more fundamental concern is for the health of our democracy. Parliament is at the heart of democracy. In our experience, the first thing coup plotters do is to annul parliament. Once they do so, they put a stop to civic representation. Representation is what defines democracy.
The legislature plays three significant roles. The first is lawmaking. It makes new laws, changes existing laws and replaces or repeals obsolete laws. The second is representation, the basis of democracy itself. The legislature represents and articulates the views and wishes of the citizens in decision-making processes. The third is serving as watchdog over Government in the interest of the citizen. In this regard, the legislature oversees the executive to ensure the accountability of the government to the people.
The April 18 incident comes against the backdrop of overt and covert contention over the legislature since the commencement of the Buhari administration. That contention has coloured activities in the National Assembly and perceptions of every move. It has been more so with the upper chamber, the Senate.
The heist of the mace also came after the decision of the Senate to suspend one of their own for 90 days. It was only on March 12 that the House of Representatives lifted its suspension of Hon Abdulmumin Jibin. Jibrin was in the cold for 17 months in compliance with the order.
Evidently, internal and external factors are working to create a Legislature that does not represent the ideal of internal democracy or one that promotes and nurtures the concept of a centre for the free exchange of divergent as well as convergent ideas. Herein lies a grave danger.
The National Assembly has 469 members, comprising of 109 senators and 360 representatives. Unfortunately for the Legislature, their conduct and activities have not met popular expectations of citizens. There is misunderstanding of their roles and disaffection with their conduct. An opaque financial system has led to suspicions and extremely negative perception of the legislature by the Nigerian people.
Add to this then incidents such as the shoplifting of the mace and citizens are further dismayed, confused and steadily growing apathetic towards the National Assembly. We share the apprehension and concern particularly for the fate of our democracy.
All over Africa, the legislature remains the most underdeveloped of the three arms of government. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) arrived at this conclusion after a rigorous study of the legislature across Africa. Part of the reason for this poor state of the legislature in the case of Nigeria includes the years of military rule, the instability of the legislature arising from the military interruptions and the lack of capacity. There is also poor institutional memory and culture.
Yet, all development agencies and experts assert that achieving good governance requires the existence of a strong, effective and efficient parliament. Consolidation of Nigeria’s democracy would require strengthening of the legislature at federal and state levels. Poor capacity and performance of the legislature is worse at the states where citizens perceive the assemblies as no more than errand agents of the Governors.
The mess of the stolen mace should cause the National Assembly to reflect on its role, its functions, conduct and perception by those it ought to serve. Citizens are worried.
Despite many reservations, it is clear that Nigerians prefer a democratic government to the years of locust under military rule. Nigerians do not want to go back there. Citizens also recognise that there is a strong link between democracy and good governance. They have seen evidence in better performance in the provision of infrastructure and other dividends of democracy by each succeeding government since 1999. The progress has been slow, but there is incremental boost as the states in each region, for instance, compete amongst themselves to do the most for their citizens and to establish their governors and governments as best performing.
Various instruments of the development agencies to which Nigeria belongs recognise the centrality of the legislature in good governance and development. They range from the Development Framework of NEPAD to the Declaration and the Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance of the African Union.
The National Assembly should lead in consolidating democracy in Nigeria through various practices. These include better internal democracy, promotion of civic education so citizens have basic understanding of the processes of the legislature and can contribute as well as better engagement with citizens such as through a quarterly outreach to all the six geopolitical zones.