It really must be a tough task speaking for the National Assembly because not many Nigerians have good things to say about the legislature, no thanks to different scandals that occurred in this arm of government since the return of democracy. For some, members of the National Assembly are a flamboyant lot, who do little for the huge salaries and allowances they are paid.
But in this interview with KEMI YESUFU, spokesman of the House of Representative, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas, says someone has to do the job of explaining the actions taken by the National Assembly. Namdas who chairs the House Committee on Media and Publicity, also speaks on his experience as a member of the National Assembly, saying he is not one of the legislators who live the champagne life of plenty wine and many women.
The National Assembly is one arm of government Nigerians find hard to trust. A good number of people don’t agree that lawmakers have earned their jumbo pay. So, how difficult is it being the spokesman of the House of Representatives?
For me, being the spokesman of the House hasn’t been a very smooth ride. And this stems from the legislative arm being greatly misunderstood on several occasions. I attribute the negative disposition towards the National Assembly on the fact, that it a relatively new arm of government. Nigerians are more used to the executive and judiciary. The legislature has only enjoyed stability since the return of democracy in 1999. But the good thing is that, Nigerians are gradually beginning to understand the role of the National Assembly and that it is the symbol of democracy. God forbid, that there is a coup today, the legislature will seize to exist. The power of the purse also lies with the National Assembly and this one role of the legislature Nigerians have to understand it’s importance. I must continue to with my job, which has a lot do with making Nigerians understand the workings of the National Assembly and that we have a full understanding that we serve at their pleasure. We are not the way people assume us to be.
But has the National Assembly exhibited a high level of responsibility when it comes to handling the national purse? Only recently former minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala accused the 7th Assembly of adding N17 billion into the 2015 budget as money for members to run elections. For the 2018 budget lawmakers jacked the figure up by N500 billion and it’s these unilateral increases in the budget figure that the executive blames for poor implementation. Some even say the blackmail of the executive started from when President Obasanjo agreed to the introduction of constituency projects.
I don’t want to join issues with Dr. Okonjo-Iweala. I wasn’t part of the 7th assembly, but I’ve long been a student of politics. I closely followed developments in the National Assembly. And I know that in 2015, when we came in, there was a N30 billion reduction of the budget of the National Assembly. That is, the budget was reduced from N150 billion to N120 billion. The National Assembly budget also includes the salaries of National Assembly staff, running the National Assembly Commission. It’s not just meant for the payment of the salaries/allowances of lawmakers. The budget of the National Assembly was left at N125 billion in 2017 budget, this is while the president jacked up the budget of the judiciary to N100 billion. We approve the budget, but that doesn’t mean that we cannot work on our own budget. The most important thing here is that past budgets were signed into law by the president and he couldn’t have done this without believing that the budget cannot be implemented. So there is no pressure on the executive to accept the budget of the National Assembly, our budget is not different from that of any MDA. On the aspect of implementation, people must remember that the life of the budget starts from the day it is signed. Whether you sign it in June or October, it will run its full circle. The executive can achieve what it wants to achieve within the budget year. Nigerians should be more concerned about the level of implementation, not the date the budget is passed.
Nigerians have often analysed the delay in passing the budget to mean a fallout of the never improving poor relationship between the executive and legislature. Is it right to say that the National Assembly does the job of opposition more than the opposition parties?
Well, speaking for the House of Representatives, I can’t remember when we took a stand or position specifically to frustrate the president. Whatever steps we take are for the purpose of ensuring good governance. But, I want Nigerians to also understand that when people talk about the legislature and the executive having a good working relationship, which is okay, they should also be objective during the times the National Assembly takes a position on issues. And I think it is unfair for people to expect lawmakers to accept whatever the president says without asking questions. This shouldn’t be the case in a democracy.
Still on the negative reputation of lawmakers as a set of people, who flaunt their wealth, what do you say to millions of Nigerians who condemned a video showing the Majority Leader of the House wearing a Gucci suit and giving his wife a N100 million car? Some of the criticism has continued even after his apology.
You said the video trended online. But as we speak, I haven’t confirmed the authenticity of the video. But speaking on the reputation of members of the National Assembly, I feel it’s unfair to use the behavior of one or two members as the yardstick for 469 legislators. Even when you go to our various constituencies, you will find people analysing the same lawmaker differently. On the issue of some of us living big, I have said this many times before that some members were successful in business, some are former governors, commissioners and ministers. So when you see a lawmaker riding an SUV or living in a posh area, you say, ‘oh they are living off our money’. Yes, there maybe a few members who have improved their status as a result coming to the National Assembly. But that doesn’t still mean that they are misusing the opportunity given them by the electorate. Then I have to remind you that the entire budget of the National Assembly is still not up to three percent of the National budget. I think it’s time for Nigerians to scrutinize what is done with the remaining 97 percent (of the annual budget).
Reps in session
Some people believe that lawmakers display their wealth to attract Abuja babes, who also are on the lookout for members of the National Assembly. What has your experience been with Abuja girls in the last three years?
Probably because I am a first term member, the ladies are yet to indentify who I am. And no lady has come around.. I am happily married…I guess the most important thing is that I don’t club, I don’t drink or smoke. I don’t even eat kola nut. In fact, I only use panadol when it is prescribed by a doctor. I hardly go for events, so where will they see me?
So people are right that its members who intentionally show off that attract girls to themselves?
Well, I can tell you from my own experience that people always find means of getting members phone numbers. People call you from everywhere, some of them are not even your constituents. Lawmakers have to put up with unsolicited phone calls and messages. But as politicians we just have to manage this situation. It is the life we have chosen.
Since you don’t smoke or drink and you don’t fancy Abuja babes, how do you unwind?
Truly, I am a workaholic. I don’t observe weekends. I work every day. I used to be Chief Press Secretary to a governor and for that kind of job, you have to be on guard 24 hours a day. You have to read wide. But the times I must relax, I put my phones on silent mode and sleep. Sometimes, I just drive around town. I honestly am not the kind who thinks much of recreational activities.
How rich is Hon. Namdas? Nigerians lawmakers are one the highest paid in the world and they control what happened with the budget….
(intercepts) What you are saying is not true. I am a member of the Pan African parliament. In fact, I was the vice-chairman of the West African Caucus of the parliament. So I’ve had the opportunity of interacting with lawmakers across Africa and I can tell you that we don’t earn higher than everybody. Even the constituency projects you talked about earlier is called constituency trust fund in Kenya. Some of those who criticise the National Assembly don’t even know how much constituency projects have impacted their villages and other rural communities. These people walk the corridors of power and the glitzy streets of Abuja, they don’t know how happy people can be with a road or something as basic as borehole being executed as a constituency project. I would only advise that people monitor what their representatives are doing closely to avoid hearsay.
How many times have you lied to defend the House? You must have mastered the act of spinning stories having worked as CPS to a governor and now serving as spokesman to the House?
Actually, it’s not about me lying or not. You just have to pick the right words, because in speaking for an institution or a high ranking public official, there are words you should avoid using. If you use certain words or expressions, people may analyse what you said you wrongly.
What has been your toughest moment as a member of the House? Was it during the budget padding controversy or….
(intercepts) Truly, it was right at the beginning when we were struggling to produce the leadership (of the House ). You find yourself in a party that formed government and here you are, with a member of your own party who has the right to aspire to any office and you chose to support him. But somebody said, ‘it should be party man ‘A’ and not party man ‘B’, who should be in this or that position. So, you get confused as a first time member of the House, asking yourself what offence you committed by excising the freedom of choice? I would have thought that anti-party activity is when I support another party man against my party man. But, I indentified with a man, that we were elected on the same political platform to the House and therefore was allowed to contest for the leadership of the House. And by choosing to identify with your party man, you were almost crucified. But what they didn’t know was that from beginning I vowed to be a loyal party member and I am till now.
Is this why you didn’t defect to the PDP with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who is your constituent? Or are you among those that as speculated will still switch parties before the 2019 elections?
No. I just feel that my election into the House, being the first I time I ran on my own, I should continue with the party I came in with. I once contested and lost as deputy governorship candidate. As is often said, all politics is local. My people don’t have a problem with the APC.
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