Monday 15 January 2018

A mellowed House leaves public exposed


By EDITORIAL
More by this Author
Democracy is anchored on the principle of separation of power among the institutions of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.
The three are expected to operate autonomously but collaboratively to achieve their respective mandates. Underlying this is the fact that each one of them checks the other and, in that way, guards against excesses.
Historically, the Executive has exhibited a penchant for domination, always striving to emasculate the other two. Kanu’s four decades in power was characterised by an overbearing and powerful Executive that reduced the Legislature and Judiciary to cheerleaders.
Part of the reason for the clamour for constitutional change was to restore independence of institutions, end imperial presidency and trim the powers of the Executive. Precisely, the Constitution has attempted to achieve this as it devolves power away from the Executive.
But we have not turned the corner yet. We are increasingly witnessing consistent attempts by the Executive to claw back on the gains made.
FULL CONTROL
Last week, in the election of Senate committee leaders, Jubilee Party went out full throttle to take all the top positions — except one that is, procedurally, reserved for the Opposition. Behind this was a choreographed scheme by the Executive to take full control of the Senate by having malleable chairpersons.
And herein lies the danger. The Legislature works through committees — they provide oversight for the various government ministries and departments.
To this extent, they must be independent so as to discharge their mandate effectively and serve public interest.
The converse is true: The public is deeply compromised when parliamentary committees are friendlier or muted because of allegiance to the ruling elite. Executive excesses are never interrogated and that paves the way for mismanagement of public resources.
It may be a political triumph for Jubilee but this is counter-intuitive. The public is left thoroughly exposed when the Legislature is mellowed.

No comments:

Post a Comment