ASUU Branch Chairman urges NASS to resist leadership imposition

The Chairman of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Abada has called on the members-elect of the 9th National Assembly (NASS) to resist the attempt from any quarters to impose principal officers on them.

Dr. Abada who is a senior lecturer at the Department of Political Science urged the newly elected parliamentarians to endeavour to elect qualified and patriotic Nigerians that will make the 9th Assembly the best.

Speaking during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dr. Abada criticized the move by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to impose leadership of the  9th Assembly.

“In any democracy, there are three independent arms of government – the executive, legislature and judiciary.

“Any attempt by one to dictate what should happen in another always creates political problem in the country.

“Nigerians elected these lawmakers because they see them as qualified and mature to represent them and capable of electing their leaders.

“I foresee what happened in 2015, when those anointed by the ruling party for Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker lost the positions, repeating itself.”

Dr. Abada stated that rather than try to impose the leadership on NASS, political parties should advise its legislators on the strategies they should adopt to get positions of principal officers.

“The party has a right to advise its legislators but should allow them to elect people of their choice in order to strengthen the independence of the legislature.

“The present situation where APC lawmakers are speaking discordant tunes over who becomes the Senate President, Speaker and other principal officers is an indication that the party is imposing officers on them,’’ he said.

The ASUU chairman further said that for the 9th Assembly to live up to the expectations of Nigerians, the leadership must be the choice of all legislators, irrespective of party affiliations, so that everybody would be carried along.

“If the legislators are allowed to elect principal officers of their choice, it will go a long way to create a good working relationship with the executive and ensure speedy passage of bills because all of them are on the same page.

“Elections have come and gone, party leaderships in the country should think more of national interest rather than selfish party interest.