Transparency International in Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) has said it is perturbed by the undemocratic action and questionable decision by leadership of the Senate as shockingly demonstrated in the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi.
Executive Director of TI-Nigeria, Auwal IMusa Rafsanjani said the organisation waa not unaware that the suspension was initiated against Ningi for expressing his constitutionally guaranteed concerns and observations on 2024 budget.
He said the suspension was 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.
Rafsanjani said: “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.
Rafsanjani maintained that the repressive action by the leadership of the senate would clearly project the legislative arm as autocratic.
He added that this to a large extent would negatively impact legislators’ independence, robust debate, genuine submissions, and image of the legislature before Nigerians and rest of the world.