A political leader in Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District, Senator Effiong Dickson Bob, said actualization of legislative autonomy would be a mirage if the ‘rubber-stamp syndrome’ is allowed to thrive and seasoned personalities denied access to the process.
He stated this over the weekend during the review of his book titled, ‘Independence of the Legislature in Nigeria: Matters Arising”, at the Uyo Book Club.
Bob represented by his brother, Victor Bob (Esq), explained that independence of the legislature cannot be complete without financial autonomy.
According to him, financial autonomy would empower the legislature to act independently without operating as an appendage to the Executive arm.
He said the essence of the book is to promote good governance, saying that the Executive has a role to play in that regard and the legislature should always engage the public as such are the tenets of democracy.
”If the House of Assembly, legislature as a whole can be financially independent, they will have more powers to stand. On the rubber stamp syndrome, well, you can’t have a perfect legislature if you don’t remove the rubber stamp, without law the society will be in chaos.
“We need seasoned personalities to be at the National and State Houses of Assembly, people who respect themselves and their future.
”It is sad that today we don’t have activists in Nigeria after Gani Fawehinmi left. There are checks and balances on the executive and the legislature as well. The laws are there, what is needed is obedience,” he noted.
Earlier the Book Reviewer, Anthony Gregory stated that the author had proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution for proper separation of powers and legislative autonomy to be achieved, noting that the benefits of legislative independence not only to the legislators but to the people as a whole can never be quantified.
He noted that the book highlighted the major impediments to legislative independence which include funding, nepotism, lack of political will and called for a clean selection process of both the legislators and the executives through free and fair elections.
“There is no way Nigeria’s democratic institutions can grow if there is no legislative independence. We have seen too many ‘rubber-stamped’ legislature in Nigeria. Indeed, I must agree with the author – it is a bumpy ride. First, he proposed some amendment to the 1999 Constitution, for proper separation of powers and legislative autonomy to be achieved. He outlined the nitty-gritty of having an independent legislature and the many good it will bring to the 36 states of the Federation, and Nigeria in particular.
”The book is an eye-opening masterpiece and veritable resource material for scholarship and deepening democratic ideals, especially in the legislative arm of government. However, I expect him to x-ray the selection process of legislators, and executives through election, which will accentuate the points he has captured here, because people run these institutions, and if the process that brought them to office are flawed, then we cannot see any meaningful change in our democracy,” Gregory said.
In his remarks, the Uyo Book Club Founder, Dr. Udeme Nana, said the focus of Uyo Book Club in 2025 is to celebrate indigenous authors and focus on their works.
He said, “We have to honour and celebrate what we have and showcase them to the world. Senator Effiong Bob is one of the most experienced politicians in Nigeria having served as a councillor, member of the State House of Assembly, Attorney – General and Commissioner for Justice and a senator.
“A book on the subject by such a resource person is a treasure that is recommended to the political class, students of government and politics and general readers.”
