In a recent development that has sparked political discussions, the Nigerian Senate rejected a motion aimed at investigating alleged administrative lapses within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Sponsored by Senator Ireti Kingibe, the motion sought to address key governance issues in Abuja, including land grabbing, forced evictions, illegal revocations, and lapses in land administration. Despite prior Senate interventions and public concerns regarding the management of the FCT, the motion faced significant procedural and political hurdles, leading to its withdrawal. Here’s a closer look at the key points surrounding this decision:
1. The Motion and Its Purpose:
Senator Ireti Kingibe presented the motion with the intention of probing critical administrative issues within the FCT, including:
- Land Grabbing & Illegal Revocations: Allegations of unlawful land acquisitions and revocations negatively impacting residents.
- Forced Evictions & Reallocations: Claims of illegal evictions and land reallocations affecting citizens.
- Lapses in Land Administration: Criticism of poor land administration and disregard for due process.
- Workers’ Welfare & Public Services: Issues relating to demolitions, sewage disposal, and the management of green areas in the FCT’s master plan.
Kingibe stressed that these problems persisted despite previous Senate interventions and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, being called to account over similar issues.
2. Senate’s Response:
- Procedural Defects: The motion was rejected on the grounds of procedural defects. The Senate argued that it did not meet the criteria for urgency under its rules (Orders 41 and 51), which require such motions to be specific and focused.
- Lack of Focus: Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin criticized the motion for being too broad. They emphasized that urgent matters should be narrowly focused, citing the motion’s combination of various unrelated issues like land administration, waste management, and workers’ welfare, making it difficult to consider as a matter of urgent national importance.
3. Political Context:
- Support for the FCT Minister: Despite the concerns raised, the Senate defended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s work in transforming Abuja. This reflects the political dynamics where many senators continue to support Wike’s administration, even as issues related to land management remain unresolved.
- Prior Legislative Intervention: Senator Kingibe noted that the Senate had already intervened a year ago on similar issues. However, no substantial changes had been made, prompting her to bring the matter back to the Senate’s attention.
4. Senators’ Positions:
- Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Senate Leader): Bamidele reiterated that motions of urgent national importance should be focused on a single issue. He suggested that Kingibe withdraw the motion and resubmit it in a more focused form, possibly narrowing the scope to waste management.
- Senator Victor Umeh: Umeh supported the inclusion of waste management as an urgent issue but was unable to sway the Senate leadership to approve the broad motion.
- Senator Munguno: Munguno was more direct in his criticism, calling the motion “incurably bad,” pointing to its broad nature as the fundamental reason for rejection.
5. The Outcome:
- Motion Withdrawn: Following the Senate’s objections, Senator Kingibe was advised to withdraw the motion. She was encouraged to reframe and resubmit it, focusing on a single issue, such as waste management, rather than attempting to tackle multiple issues in one motion.
Key Takeaways:
- Adherence to Procedural Requirements: The Senate’s rejection highlights the importance of following procedural rules for motions of urgent national importance, which must be specific and focused.
- Land Administration and Waste Management: Although these are pressing issues, the Senate determined that addressing them in a single motion was too broad to be classified as urgent.
- Political Dynamics: The Senate’s ongoing support for Minister Nyesom Wike suggests that political allegiances and the administration’s reforms continue to influence legislative actions, even in the face of unresolved concerns.
- Future Action: Despite the setback, Senator Kingibe can still pursue reforms on these issues by narrowing her focus and introducing more specific motions, such as one solely dedicated to waste management or land administration.
The Senate’s rejection of this motion represents a significant challenge for those calling for greater accountability in the FCT, but it also offers an opportunity for more targeted efforts in the future.
