Diaspora group warns Senate over Armed Forces Commission Bill

Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group, United Kingdom, NDMG-UK has charged the Senate not to allow itself to be used as an agent to destabilize the country through the proposed Armed Forces Commission Bill.

The group made this known in a communique issued after its meeting in London which appraised and reviewed in totality the legislative activities of Nigeria’s 9th National Assembly.

In the communique released on Monday and jointly signed by the group’s chairman, Prince Ugo and secretary, Communique Drafting Committee, Mr. Tegha Samuel respectively, it urged the NASS to take a deeper look at the proposed bill and restrain itself from foisting confusion.

The UK group revealed that the Armed Forces of a country is a symbol of unity and should be spared from partisan abuses especially as being contemplated by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.

Failure to do so, the NDMG-UK reckoned, may lead to a total break down of law and order which is the ultimate target of Senator Abaribe and his cohorts.

The group, however, urged the NASS “to retrace its footsteps and learn to conduct its legislative functions in a manner that is beneficial to the immediate and future aspirations and progress of Nigeria”.

The communique reads in part: “That the Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group, United Kingdom (NDMG-UK) has recognized the legislature as an integral and very crucial arm of the democratic government in Nigeria. And the National Assembly (NASS) which is the only organ vested with the powers of churning out legislations for good governance seems to have slumbered, slacked, unfocused and derailed in the discharge of this fundamental responsibility.

“The  NDMG-UK wishes to call on the leadership of the National Assembly led by the President of Senate, Sen. Ahmed Lawan and the House of Representatives Speaker. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to urgently re-direct the parliamentary body on a productive, purposeful and rewarding trajectory of lawmaking for the nation.

“The NASS leadership is enjoined to frequently organize seminars  and workshops for national parliamentarians in the area of legislative functions, procedures and matters of legislation through sponsored member-Bills and other issues ancillary to it. This will refresh the knowledge and enlighten lawmakers especially newcomers in the Chambers on the art of legislation and the democratic process.

“The meeting noted with grave concern some  anti-populist motions and Bills being contemplated  by  both chambers for passage.  The NDMG-UK particularly frowns  at the recent resolution of NASS which purportedly passed a resolution calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign over resurgent insecurities in parts of the country.”