Hardship: No Way, Unicameral Now -By Toheeb Babalola

Nothing saddens more than seeing a Lion eating the leftovers of the minor animals in a Kingdom that he rules for years. In Africa, when it comes to population, no country will drag the seat with Nigeria. However, over 133 million Nigerians are extremely living in poverty and killed by inflation on a daily basis due to the errors of the Policymakers.

Mojisola, 56yr old local launderer (“Alagbafo”, in Yoruba language), has been washing people’s clothes for over 25 years at a compound owned by Doherty’s family around Ibadan Central Hospital, Ososami area, Oke-Ado, Ibadan in Oyo State. She is addressed as “Mama Sodiq” by her customers and the neighbourhood.

At 05:30 am, shortly after nearby Mosque calls for praying, Mama Sodiq (who has lost her husband in 2013) began to trek from her rented house at Inalende to the laundry for almost 3 hours every day, with the aim to meet her customers who are civil servants for early business negotiation. She was making 2,000 naira and sometimes 1,500 naira per day. Despite this amount, she has never bought new dresses for herself. Because she has a son at The Polytechnic, Ibadan whom she sent part of the money to.

Months after the 2023 elections, the actions of the 16th President which resulted in economic recession, has stopped Mama Sodiq from her laundry work. The civil servants that used to give her clothes to wash have started doing it by themselves. She is currently at home waiting for a miracle.

There are many people like Mama Sodiq who were asked to standby at home by the private organisations due to the dwindling economy that has affected the interaction of demand and supply in the Market. Nevertheless, Nigerians can still have a high standard of living and reduced poverty rate, if the President and the leadership of the National Assembly take the following actions.

The 1999 Constitution is the main source of the problems confronting Nigeria. You know if there are loopholes in the principles that guide the country, the policymakers will not help but make things worse for the indigent people. The constitution needs to be amended again and redressed some sections/provisions.

For the country to be financially capable, Nigerians should witness some changes in the legislative section. We need to embrace a unicameral legislature to cut the expensive running of two national Houses. In spite of the suffering of common persons, the federal lawmakers are receiving their statutory N13.5 million (aside other allowances) and living lavishly. The numbers of the lawmakers should be reduced to allow adequate circulation of funds to Nigerians.

Nigeria should emulate Part-time lawmaking as it is practised in the developed nations. This will lessen the gross expenditure in running democracy. The National Assembly holds plenary for eight days in less than 32 hrs per month, which is quite similar to a normal part-time job. Meanwhile, prior to their elections into the various Houses, it is worthy to note that many of the lawmakers did not have tangible professions that fetch them N5 million per month. Thus, they have considered law making as a lucrative job than a patriotic responsibility which is why politicians kill themselves in the election.

If lawmaking was a part-time job, the legislative arm of the country would have not been controlled by the same set of people since 1999. The patriotic and selfless individuals would also have graced the National Assembly and enacted favourable bills for their fellow citizens.

The current state of 774 Local Governments across the country are worrisome. Since the Constitution gave the States authority to enact law for the control of the local councils, however, the State Governments could not help but turn the third tier of government into toothless dogs.

The people at the grassroots are lacking developmental projects in their local domains and the State Governments are not releasing adequate funds to the Councils for implementation of their statutory duties. However, through the State-local joint account, the Governors receive the monthly allocation of the local governments from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). And to end hardship, the local governments should be financially independent to give the people at the grassroots a sense of belonging in the decision making.

Above all, the ball is now in court of Tinubu and Akpabio to ensure proper review of the current constitution in the next couple of months for the betterment of Nigeria. We are one nation, one people and God has made us together in our diversity. Let us rise and fight the hardship.

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