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 by heated exchanges and lack of focus on policy changes, with limited time dedicated to substantive debates. “This dynamic is reflected in the legislature’s handling of critical issues like the budget approval process and security legislation,” he added. The ILA Arbitration Committee also drew a comparison to the Scottish parliament, where lawmakers are provided dedicated spaces to ‘think’ when debates become heated – a luxury seemingly absent in Nigeria’s legislative chambers.
“We want the Nigerian legislative system to be improved, but that will require fundamental changes from the qualification requirements to the rules of procedure and overall expectations placed on our lawmakers,” Aderemi said. He concluded by declaring that ‘the structure of the system is problematic, but the calibre and dedication of our legislators are also very much in question.” Holistic reforms, Dr Aderemi noted, are needed to strengthen the National Assembly and ensure it can truly serve the needs of the Nigerian people.
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