I listened to Sen. Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West in the Red Chamber, reading his proposed Bill for legalization of lobbying, on the floor of the Senate, and was surprise, though not too surprise; reason being that he is known for corruption and controversiality. In times like this, the Senate should rather be preoccupied with making laws that can help salvage the economy from a total collapse, than, engaging in its members self aggrandizement. The Bill when it becomes a law, would provide that all lobbyists, register with Corporate Affairs Commission, and the Judiciary to be able to practice. Accordingly, he defined lobbying to mean, and I quote from Premium times: "an activity in which special interests hire well-connected professional advocates, often lawyers, to argue for specific legislation in parliament." Now, I wish to ask: is this not a medium to legalize and institutionalize bribery? A dismal point of this proposed Bill entitled: “Bill for an Act for the Regulation and Registration of Lobbyists in Nigeria and for other matters connected therewith, 2016’’, is that, it comes at the wake of the Executive's fight against corruption. Do we really need such a Bill? Of what benefit would the Bill ameliorate the current economic tide in the country? The 8th Senate under the leadership of Sen. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has not just shown to be corrupt, but, inept in legislative business. The Senate should be seen as a source of democratic ethos, not as a place of sharp practices by trustees of the commonwealth of the nation.
It is sad that weeks after the defunct embattled chairman of House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Jibrin, let the cat out of the bag, concerning 2016 budget code-named: "budget padding", the Senate could have the guts to embark on enacting a law to empower corrupt individuals, and give NASS members more power to do more "padding" in the name of lobbying for more constituency projects. This does not just show the height of corruption in the NASS, but, also displays the level of policy directionlessness. The Senate should be seen as a distinguish place, but when its members have condescend so low to legalizing corruption, wherein lies the distinguishness? The leadership of the Senate, should as a matter of respect and honour, for their constituents, cast such Bill to the flames, and put forward laws that are beneficial to all.
~Comr. Edu Etukakpan
Media Consultant/Public Affairs Analyst
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