As the National Assembly resumes on Tuesday, July 4, one key area of interest the Senate leadership should prioritise is the adoption of electronic voting to conduct legislative business.
It is disheartening to note that in the 21st Century, the nation’s apex legislative body still conducts its voting manually or better put, in an analogue form where the Presiding Officer puts a question to voice vote and he rules in favour of ‘Ayeeeees’ or ‘Naaaaays’.
The first time e-voting system was adopted in conducting legislative business in the Eighth Senate, was in October 2016 during the confirmation of new Supreme Court judges.
Prior to that time, it was employed in 2013 in the Seventh Senate during the Constitution Review exercise. I recall how the member representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, Ayo Akinyelure, wept before his angry constituents in Akure as he apologised for voting in error in the controversial passage of a resolution to retain the provision of Section 29 (4) (b) of the 1999 Constitution, which states that a married underage girl is deemed to be an adult. The legislator laboured in vain to convince an obviously enraged crowd that he mistakenly pressed the wrong button during the electronic voting exercise, thinking that he was voting against child marriage. In fact, that was the end of his sojourn in the Senate, as he failed to secure a return ticket.
Since 2016, the digital equipment has been left to lie fallow while Senate leadership opts for analogue system.
Order 72 of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 (as amended) identifies three Modes of Voting in the hallowed chamber namely: by Voice Vote, Signing of Register in a Division or through Electronic Voting Device installed in the Senate. The facilities have been installed but I am yet to fathom why they have not been put to optimal use.
Sadly, successive Senate leaderships have adopted the use of Voice Votes in conducting parliamentary proceedings. And this has been subjected to abuse as the Presiding Officer hits the gavel in favour of ‘Ayes’ or ‘Nays’ at his whims and caprices.
In November 2016, Senate President, Bukola Saraki overuled other senators when President Muhammadu Buhari’s 46 non-career ambassadorial nominees escaped rejection. The drama of rejecting the envoys was averted when Senate President in a dramatic twist, overruled his colleagues.
After the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs submitted its report, Saraki subjected the request to a Voice Vote, with most legislators thundering ‘Nay’.
However, he overruled the lawmakers, saying that the ‘Ayes’ had it and approved the consideration of the list of non-career ambassadorial nominees.
Although Order 73 makes provision for any senator not satisfied with the ruling of the Presiding Officer to call for a Division, where roll call is taken by the Clerk and each lawmaker stating how he/she voted, senators are scared of doing this, as they misconstrue it as openly challenging the Senate leadership.
For a Senate that preaches transparency and accountability as its watchword in its Legislative Agenda, the adoption of electronic voting will put an end to needless controversies, as the electronic scoreboard will display the results of lawmakers who voted for or against a bill, motion or resolution.
In March this year, the upper legislative chamber received accolades from stakeholders for amending the Electoral Act by approving the use of electronic voting in conducting future elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ironically, the same Senate is yet to adopt new technology as it still uses analogue system in conducting its affairs. It’s like trying to remove the speck in your brother’s eye without noticing the log in yours.
Also, the job of correspondents covering the Senate has been made much more difficult due to inability of the Committee on Rules and Business to send electronic copies of Order Papers to reporters.
In a digital era like ours, journalists are still made to scramble for hard copies of Order Paper, a development that could have been better managed at the click of a button.
The document which contains the business of the Senate on each parliamentary sitting is prepared by the panel.
Although the committee made effort to send the electronic Order Paper to journalists on few occasions, it arrived late as they were sometimes sent towards the end of plenary, thereby defeating its purpose. These documents alongside Notice Papers, ought to have been sent prior to plenary to enable reporters alert their editors on time.
The reluctance of senators to adopt modern trends in conducting parliamentary proceedings may not be far-fetched. Only a handful of them are active in social media. For instance, I conducted my findings and discovered that only 5.5 percent of the current 108 senators have active social media accounts – Facebook/Twitter.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to conduct the by-election in Anambra Central Senatorial District due to protracted legal tussle.
Save for Saraki (APC, Kwara State), Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna State), Ben Murray-Bruce (PDP, Bayelsa State), Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta State), Gbenga Ashafa (APC, Lagos State) and Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP, Abia State), others are inactive, while most senators are not on social media altogether.
Notwithstanding, the leadership must be commended for streaming plenary live. For instance, there was a day I arrived late for plenary, rather than call my colleagues to know what was happening, I simply watched the live streaming on my mobile phone, took notes and wrote my story.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, legislative activities will commence in the next forty-eight hours with the following expected to top agenda: consideration of $6.9 billion external loan request, Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill, Host Community Development Fund bill, constitution review, screening and confirmation of 12 pending nominees as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), economic reform bills among others.
OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja
