The projections on Femi Gbajabiamila given his wealth of experience if given any task in the incoming administration-Bashir Suwaid

By solacebase.com On May 13, 2023

Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila , Bola Tinubu — Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila

By Bashir Suwaid

The 6th term lawmaker and outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Honorable Femi Gbajabiamila could be a valuable asset to the incoming administration. His knowledge of the legislative process, ability to manage diverse groups of people, and his skill in communicating with the public would all be valuable assets in helping to shape and stabilize the new administration.

As a legislator and the Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has carved an enviable reputation for himself as a firm, principled and visionary lawmaker, he has been particularly passionate about the establishment of Nigeria Education Bank Bill, Interest-Free Students Loan Bill, Vocational Schools Bill, Local Content in Construction Industry Bill, Employee Rights Bill, and other bills in the House.

Femi Gbajabiamila, even as a non-presiding officer on the floor of the house, actively participated in House discussions and quickly gained a reputation as one of the National Assembly’s brightest thinkers. He consistently stood out for justice, and the truth and his viewpoint accurately reflected that of his constituents.

Before becoming the Speaker of the House of Representatives, he fought valiantly on the House floor through motions to force the National Assembly to recognize the newly established local governments in Lagos State.

Additionally, he successfully sponsored several significant amendments to the Nigerian constitution.

For his passion and zeal to ensure the entrenchment and strengthening of democracy in Nigeria, Femi Gbajabiamila was the first and only lawmaker to introduce a resolution in the House to invoke the doctrine of necessity, which resulted in Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan being sworn in as acting president.

Gbajabiamila pushed for fiscal federalism and transparency in government expenditures. He accused the then-federal government of running an unauthorized account for extra crude oil and initiated various lawsuits against it.

He was nominated in 2011 for the prestigious Officer of the Federal Republic National Award (OFR). Gbajabiamila shocked many Nigerians and won numerous accolades when he declined the award because he didn’t deserve it and that Nigeria’s awards system was no longer serving its original purpose. To that end, he proposed an amendment to the National Honors Act of 1964 to establish strict criteria for selecting National Award nominees. In doing so, Gbajabiamila joined the late Chinua Achebe and Professor Grace Alele-Williams as the third and youngest Nigerians to decline national honours.

His achievements as the Speaker are numerous. Within two years of his leadership, 41 bills were passed out of the 853 bills considered within the period, 105 passed second reading and 66 bills are awaiting actions by the Committee.

Over 730 pro-people motions have been raised by members under the same period. Over 163 petitions received by the House which were transferred to the committee on Public Petitions for consideration.

The Petroleum Industry and Governance Bill (PIB) that has been lingering for years got accelerated attention. This passage of the bill led to the unbundling of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). It addresses the concerns of all stakeholders including the oil producing communities.

The ground norm, the most important national document – Constitution also got amended. Public hearings were held across the six geo-political zones and memoranda were submitted by interest groups and other concerned bodies. The preponderance of thoughts were reviewed and refined into the new amendments.

The electoral Act which has been a recurring subject of discourse also got the required attention of the Gbajabiamila house. The document was strengthened to improve the nation’s electoral system and finally the bill was passed under his leadership.

The restoration of the January to December budget circle is another major achievement that the Gbajabiamila-led administration will be remembered for. The order in the budgetary system enlisted Nigeria among a comity of nations that are progressing.

That is not all. In the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic, the speaker was the leading voice that advocated comfort for the vulnerable who were badly hit by the pandemic. He made a case for health workers who are the frontline fighters combating the scourge.

Other industrial tussles didn’t go without the interventions of the proactive speaker. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike was called off after several months due to the intervention of the Honourable Speaker.

With these little achievement out of too numerous I haven’t stated to his credit, if the outgoing Speaker will be given a role or any high-level position in the incoming government, it is likely that he will bring his wealth of experience and expertise to bear in shaping and stabilizing the incoming administration.

Some possible ways he may do this include:

Providing guidance and advice on legislative matters: As the outgoing speaker, the Speaker is well-versed in the legislative process and can offer valuable insight and advice on how to best pass laws and other proposed legislation.

Leveraging existing relationships: The Speaker has served in a role with many constituents. He will be able to use his existing relationships to help build bridges between members of the National Assembly and the new administration.

Working as an intermediary for negotiations: The Honourable Speaker can also act as an intermediary between members of National Assembly (both the Senate and MoHRs)and the incoming administration on matters such as budget negotiations and other important legislative matters that require a great deal of compromise and negotiation.
Using his political skills: Mr. Speaker is an experienced statesman and can help ensure that political tensions do not interfere with the work of the administration or legislature.
Drawing on his experience in National Assembly: Speaker Femi Gbaja could help the incoming administration to navigate the legislative process more effectively. He could provide insight into how to build coalitions, negotiate with lawmakers, and craft legislation that is likely to be successful.
Building relationships with other branches of Government: Speaker Gbaja could also use his experience to help the incoming administration build relationships with other branches of government and key stakeholders. He could advise the President and other officials on how to work with the judiciary, state governments, and interest groups to advance their policy agenda.
Political Background: Given his background in politics, the Honorable Speaker could also be well-suited to help the incoming administration with public relations and messaging. He could help the President and other officials to communicate their policies and goals effectively to the public, and to respond to criticism and opposition.
Shaping the overall direction of the incoming administration: The Speaker could play a valuable role in helping to shape the overall direction of the incoming administration. Drawing on his experience and expertise, he could provide insight and advice on issues ranging from foreign policy to economic development to social welfare programs.

Narrowing this high level positions, the Honourable Speker could fit in any high-level position in the presidency because there are several ways in which he could use his wealth of experience to shape and help stabilize the administration.

Firstly, the Speaker would bring a deep understanding of the legislative process and the inner workings of National Assembly. This knowledge would be particularly useful in helping the administration navigate the complex landscape of the National Assembly and build relationships with key lawmakers.

Secondly, the Speaker’s experience in managing a large and diverse caucus would be invaluable in a high-level role in the administration. The Speaker has to balance the competing interests of members of their own party while also reaching across the aisle to work with members of the opposition. This experience could be applied in a number of ways, from managing relationships with various interest groups and stakeholders to ensuring that the administration’s policies are implemented effectively across various departments and agencies.

Thirdly, the Speaker’s experience in dealing with the media and communicating with the public would be an asset to the incoming administration. As a high-profile public figure, the Speaker has had to navigate a variety of media environments and effectively communicate complex policy ideas to a broad audience. This experience could be applied to help the President and other officials communicate their message effectively to the public, and to manage the administration’s public image.

Overall, if the Speaker of the House of Representatives is to take on any high-level role in the incoming administration, he will no doubt bring his wealth of experience and expertise to the table.

Finally, as a speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila possesses a wealth of experience and knowledge in effectively managing and governing the legislative body of the Nigerian government. Here are some other ways in which Femi Gbaja could utilize his experience to shape and stabilize the incoming administration and help the President elect:

Offer advice on strategy and legislative plans, such as how to strategically move bills through the legislative process.

Provide guidance on how to interact with Congress and manage relationships with members of Congress in order to achieve objectives like passing legislation and securing policy changes.

Assist in developing a plan for working with foreign governments and international bodies to create strong ties and seek cooperation.

Serve as an informal advisor to the President elect, helping to make snap decisions in times of crisis or other unforeseen circumstances.

Suggest steps that can be taken to streamline the overall operation of the incoming administration, to ensure efficiency and a successful transition.

Suwaid, SA Media to Hon Hafiz Kawu MHOR, Tarauni, Kano