Dr Tolu Aderemi, the Chairman of the International Law Association (ILA) Arbitration Committee, has advocated the need for Nigerian legislators to serve on a part-time basis. Speaking during his address at the 6th JAALS Annual Conference, Dr Aderemi, who is also the Director of the JAALS Foundation, queried the gaps in the qualifications and effectiveness of Nigerian lawmakers. He said: “The quality of debate and overall effectiveness of our legislative arm is simply extraordinary, and not in a good way.
“When you look at the qualifications, parliamentary procedures, and policy outcomes in other countries, it’s clear Nigeria’s National Assembly is lagging.” While dissecting the differences in the legislature of various countries, one of which is the educational requirements, Dr Aderemi added “While Ghana, the U.S.
, and Singapore all have minimum age and citizenship criteria for their legislators, Nigeria stands alone in also mandating a secondary school certificate or equivalent. “Academic qualification could help ensure a higher calibre of lawmakers, but it may also exclude many qualified citizens from serving.” Dr Aderemi further highlighted the stark contrasts between parliamentary debates and overall legislative effectiveness.
“The U.S. Congress is praised for its policy focus and bipartisanship, while Singapore’s parliament is known for its efficiency and consensus-building approach.
“In contrast, Nigeria’s National Assembly is often characterised.