A country’s
foreign relation refers to the relationship that exists between the public
policy organ of that country and other countries and entities abroad. The main
goal of such relationship is basically to create, develop and manage foreign
policy by continuously projecting self interest in the formulation of a
universal policy. This infers that in a democratic setting, a country’s foreign
relations or policy is a composition of the relationship that exists between both
the Executive and Legislative arms (saddled with the responsibility of evolving
or shaping public policy) and other countries/entities. This also means that Nigeria’s
engagement in inter-parliamentary relations through the legislature is part of her
foreign relation activities.
Since 1999,
Nigeria has been a prominent player in the international arena either at the
executive or legislative level.
Nigeria’s
foreign policy has all along been centred on Africa as a Regional power, with
the principle of promoting unity and independence, exercising dominant
influence in the region, peaceful conflict resolution, non-alignment and non-intentional
interference in the internal affairs of other nations, and regional economic co-operation
and development. In this respect, Nigeria participates prominently in International
Associations like the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS), the Non-Aligned Movement, the Commonwealth, and the
United Nations amongst other organizations.
The National
Assembly since 1999 had to participate actively in Inter-Parliamentary
Organizations which was hitherto denied the country due to the long years of military
rule. Among others the Nigerian Legislature especially the National Assembly
play active roles in the International Parliamentary Organizations like the
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the African Parliamentary Union (APU),
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary
Assembly, PAN African Parliament (organ of the African Union), ECOWAS
Parliament and Friendship Groups amongst others.
For
effective coordination and articulation of the resolutions arising from the
organizations, the two Chambers have committees that liaise with the National
Secretariat of Nigerian Legislatures (NSNL) to harness the benefits from
Nigeria’s participation in the parliamentary organizations. The Committees for
Inter-Parliamentary Relations are established by the Senate and House of
Representatives to treat matters bordering on Inter-parliamentary activities. In
this respect, the Committees are to:
i.
Study, analyze and suggest improvement of the charters
of all inter-parliamentary co-operative groupings of which the House is a
member as well as to find other ways by which Nigerian Legislature shall exert
itself thereon;
ii.
Initiate good policies on parliamentary research and
documentation and ensure an efficient data bank on the National and State Houses
of Assembly;
iii.
Ensure the maintenance of harmonious and productive
relations between the National Assembly and all world Parliaments;
iv.
Recommend to the House the formation of, and entry
into, any new parliamentary grouping;
v.
Ensure the maintenance of harmonious and productive
relations with and in all International Parliamentary Associations such as
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA),
Union of African Parliament (APU), ACP/EU;
vi.
Co-ordinate national and international parliamentary
exchanges, hospitality and courtesies on reciprocal basis;
vii.
Make recommendations to the House as to the
desirability of the House sending delegation to specific inter-parliamentary
events;
viii.
Initiate the Organization of national and international
conferences, seminars, workshops and other fora for the dissemination of
parliamentary education and experiences;
ix.
Represent the National Assembly in specific
International Parliamentary Associations or groupings on terms agreed to
between the House and the Senate;
x.
Ensure good relationship between the National Assembly
and State Houses of assembly;
xi.
Ensure the execution of House Resolutions on
Inter-Parliamentary Relations;
xii.
Annual budget estimates for the Committee.
 |
| Sen. David Mark, Nigeria's Senate President |
Though
these functions are clear and valuable, it is not clear how the Committees are
able to actualize the expectations from the conferences despite huge financial
contributions of the National Assembly to the Conferences. The main
Inter-Parliamentary Organizations the National Assembly participates
effectively include but not limited to: Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association (CPA), Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Africa
Region), ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, African Parliamentary Union (APU),
Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and several Parliamentary Friendship Groups.
Impact of Inter-Parliamentary Conferences on
Lawmaking in Nigeria
The
National Assembly through the two Houses have consistently engaged in
legislative actions that are in consonance with resolutions from various
international organizations. For instance, the House Committee on
Inter-Parliamentary Relations has incessantly contributed to Charters,
Agreements and Pacts entered into by the House of Representatives. Under the
Bankole led-leadership of the House of Representatives, the Committee worked
assiduously with the Turkish Parliament to evolve the Turkish - Nigeria Charter
which was subsequently presented on the Floor of the House of Representatives
for approval by the erstwhile Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Binta Masi
Garba.
The
impact of the resolutions arising from the meetings of international
organizations is in no small measure beneficial to the socio-political
development of a member state. In Nigeria, the Child Right Act of 2003, the
National Poverty Alleviation Programme, National Agency for the Prohibition in
Traffic in Persons Act 2004, The National Human Rights Commission (Amendment)
Act 2010 and legislations on climate change, electoral matters, violence
against women and children, arms proliferation and trafficking, peace and
security as well as terrorism amongst others were all conceptualized from
deliberations and resolutions of international parliamentary organizations.
It is
arguable that the domestication of the policy which gave birth to the Child’s
Right Act passed by the National Assembly and over 20 states of the federation
is viewed to have received the most impact in Nigeria.
 |
| RT. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Nigeria's Speaker of the House of Representatives |
Furthermore,
the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the United
Nations in 2000 saw most international parliamentary organizations like the
IPU, ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, APU and CPA pass resolutions to support
the pronouncement. Accordingly, there is no gainsaying the fact that the issue
of MDGs since then became topical in Nigeria, with the National Assembly and
State legislatures affirming the resolutions of these parliamentary
organizations and providing legislative activities aimed at realizing the
achievement of the Goals by 2015. It is not in doubt that Members of the
National and State Houses of Assembly who participate in Inter-Parliamentary
Organizations have positively contributed to the process of lawmaking and
governance in Nigeria. Such participation has also increased member’s
legislative experience and knowledge in the growth of the legislature in
Nigeria.
Challenges
Though
members gain experience and knowledge from their interaction with their
counterparts from other parliaments, it must be stated that implementing some
of the decisions of the conferences have always posed serious challenge in
Nigeria. Even though Nigeria belongs to certain organizations and are part of
the decisions from deliberations of their meetings and for example naturally agrees
to the guidelines that stipulate a 26 percent budgetary provision for
education, the education sector budget in Nigeria has barely been more than 10
percent. Recently, a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bamidele
Faparusi advocated the allocation of 30 per cent budgetary provision at all
levels of government to education to address the decay in the sector; however
the expected outcome of such proposal is yet to be seen.
 |
| Binta Garba, former Chairperson Inter-Parliamentary Relations |
Sometimes
the lack of political will manifests in undermining some of the actions contemplated
by these resolutions. On the other hand, there are often institutional lapses in
the organization and composition of Nigerian delegates as well as the process
of attending the events of these organizations. For instance there is no proper platform for
Nigerian delegates to deliberate and resolve on the Nigerian position before
attending these events and on return from these conferences or meetings, there
is often lack of appropriate measures taken to translate these decisions into
legislations or perhaps using these meetings as
a means of gaining international exposure and knowledge. Thus, reports from
deliberations of international parliamentary organizations are hardly presented
on the floor of both Houses for consideration and further actions by delegates
who attend these meetings or conferences. For example, in the last House of
Representatives (2007 – 2011), the then Chief Whip of the House and current
Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emeka Nkem Ihedioha led a delegation of the House of
Representatives to attend a meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary
Association (CPA) Africa Region. A resolution of the meeting centred on the
provision of the CPA office in the National Assembly to specifically oversee
matters concerning the CPA including the benefits from such organization.
Regrettably, the efforts of the then Chief Whip in ensuring the implementation
of this resolution never came to life. Many other resolutions have followed this
direction which limits the impact of these resolutions on the National Assembly
members and in the growth of the legislature.
 |
| Hon. Dimeji Bankole, former Speaker of House of Representatives |
Conclusion
Having
established the fact that countries all over the world do recognize that growth
and development cannot be separated from partnership and cooperation, it should
be emphasized that the legislature itself through the Committees on
Inter-Parliamentary Relations and relevant departments should act appropriately
and seriously in the guidance and direction of delegates to international
parliamentary meetings especially in highlighting Nigeria’s position on topical
issues of deliberations. It is important to also state that as a growing
democracy and legislature, the National Assembly should rise up to the occasion,
carrying the other legislative arms (state and local governments) along as time
goes on. Hence, the impact of these resolutions from international
parliamentary meetings and fora shall be adequately felt as the legislature in
Nigeria continues to garner experience. This is why the resuscitation of the
Conference of Presiding Officers in Nigeria which has not met in the past two
years is imperative; to create a further platform through decisions reached at
international organizations of the legislature would be discussed. This will
not only help to strengthen the states legislatures but deepen our democracy
and the growth of the Nigerian legislature.
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