Nigerian Senate now Autocratic, Silences Opposition CSO says after suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International in Nigeria (TI-Nigeria), has described the Nigerian Senate suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as an attack on freedom of expression and opposition’s rights and independence.

The Senator was suspended on Tuesday for three months over his allegations concerning the 2024 budget padding.

Senator Ningi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Population, had alleged that the leadership of the Senate padded the 2024 budget by N3.7trillion.

The Bauchi senator, who was the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, maintained that N3.7trillion could not be accounted for in the 2024 budget.

Reacting to the suspension of the opposition lawmaker, CISLAC/TI-Nigeria in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa, said that the organisation was seriously perturbed by what it described as the “undemocratic action and questionable decision” by the leadership of the Senate “as shockingly” demonstrated in the recent “unfounded” suspension of Senator Ningi.

Musa stated that “We are not unaware that the suspension was initiated against Senator Ningi for expressing his constitutionally guaranteed concerns and observations on 2024 budget at this critical moment when the nation is deeply soaked in socio-economic and financial crisis.

“The suspension is not unconnected with the public exposure of the N3 trillion padded into the 2024 budget by the Upper Chamber, which has hitherto failed to display transparency and public accountability in its annual budgetary allocation and spending.

“This includes the inequality and disproportionate marginalisation surrounding the distributions of the N3 trillion, where each Senator is expected to receive N500 million as Constituency Allowance.”

Musa further stated that “We recognise and affirm that freedom of expression and opinion remains sacrosanct to preserve the democratic culture, values and principles in Nigeria.

“We, without hesitation, uphold our position that freedom of opinion and expression is a constitutional and legally-backed right under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria; Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948; Article 19 (2) of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966; hence, the sanity and sanctity of these provisions must be strictly adhered, demonstrated and protected by a civic institution such as National Assembly.

“Anything outside these provisions is tantamount to deliberate violation of human right and apparent disregard to the rule of law.

“We must reiterate that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a supreme law of the country gives zero provision or power to the Senate to suspend a Member of the National Assembly. Such provisions are only found in the Ethics and Privileges Committee laws, which is answerable to the plenary through the Senate President.

“On this note, the Committee laws cannot override the Constitution, most especially in a matter of freedom of expression which is a fundamental right.”

The group noted that “Just as every member of the National Assembly representing his/her constituency has the primary mandates and responsibilities to absorb communal observations and offer feedback to the people for public accountability, expressing such in form of opinion must not be interfered, intimidated or suppressed in any way or form.

“The repressive action by leadership of the senate would clearly project the legislative arm as autocratic, which to a large extent would negatively impact legislators’ independence, robust debate, genuine submissions, and image of the legislature before Nigerians and the rest of the world.

“Unjust suspension of a Senator who represents an entire Senatorial district is similar to public demonstration of an unguarded culture of silencing, insensitivity, disrespect and marginalisation of the people.

“We strongly maintain that intimidating or silencing the opinion of the dissents or oppositions is unhealthy in any civilised democracy and must not be tolerated as a culture in Nigeria.

“Despite the multiple number of opposition parties in the National Assembly, they appear to be conquered by power of the executive as well as the principal officers in the legislature.

“We therefore, call on the Senate to as a matter of urgency shun silencing opposition views in the legislature; as the essence of the legislature is to allow for freedom of expression and contrary opinions as well as provide a democratic platform for constructive debates that enhance national interest.”

According to him, “The greatest danger is that legislators can no longer be allowed to perform their duties including oversight and opposing views on the executive and principal officers in the senate which will tantamount democratic dictatorships.

“We call on all well-meaning Nigerians and the media to protect and reject any undemocratic action or decision by the National Assembly targeted at impeding public accountability and shrinking civic space.”