By Christianah Akindunbi & Kayode Olabanji
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Presently, Nigeria practices bicameral system at the National Assembly, vis a vis the Senate and the House of Representatives.

 Recently, some Nigerians are of the opinion that running the two chambers is too expensive considering the nation’s economy.

The Hope Classics went to town to speak with some people on which is preferable,  unicameral or bicameral legislature.

 Excerpts:

Barr. Tolu Babaleye, legal practitioner

I do not support unicameral system of government because it can encourage conspiracy against the people they are govern.

So, this our multi-camera system is better. My position is they should allow the two to function.

Considering the cost implication, I will say every democracy in the world is expensive.

But the only thing is that we should cut our clothe according to our clothes. So, if we reduce the money that we use to run the democracy in Nigeria, it will be very okay for us.

A system where our members of House of Representative and senators collect bogus allowance is not good for the system, so we should make the place less attractive and allow people who have other means of income to go to the House of Representatives and senators, It will be very good for us.

What I am trying to say is that, the job of a senator and member of the House of Representatives should be a part-time job so they should be earning allowance, instead of salaries.

I will say house of representative is more closer to the people, for example in Ondo state, house of Representative is representing only two local government, while the Senate is only representing six.

Mr Oladiran Oni, APC chieftain

I prefer the bicameral legislature, which is the House of Representatives and the Senate.

But what I think should be done, is that they should find a way of reducing the remuneration given to them.

I mean, a situation whereby a senator takes home about a total package of N800, 000 or N900, 000, it will not be a do or die affairs again. And it will move the country forward financially.

An institution that gives its members about N14 million a month, and where we have a minimum wage of N18, 000, is totally uncalled for.

Another option is, if they can make both Houses not a permanent venture, but sort of part-time for occupants, such that a senator or a member of House of Representatives member have other businesses doing.

But the way they are doing it in both Houses is negatively affecting the country’s economy.

In a country, where we are just getting out of recession, and you are still pay each senators up to N14, million and other allowances and packages, is highly uncalled for.

I think Nigeria senators are the most highly paid in the world.

Unfortunately, you cannot tell the senators to cut the allowances, because they are the beneficiaries. They can never do it.

Nevertheless, what the government ought to focus on now is to look into a way to cut down their salaries. On which of the Houses represents the people more, I will say the House of Representatives get closer to the people at the grassroots than the senators.

If we look at it in the State, we have several House of Representatives members like 10 or 15. But we only have three senators.

So, the House of Representative has more members to cover the wide area.

Barrister Akin Ogunsakin,legal practitioner

Unicameral is a system of government whereby  power is not shared  by the legislature. Simply put government with one Chamber of authority.

 This system of government is typical in smaller countries with unitary system of government e.g Finland.

Conversely, Bicameralism means body of government where power is shared between two separate Houses that work together to make laws like  the United States of America, which has House of Senate and House  of Representatives.

Nigeria equally shares the same system with USA. Essentially, the Bicameralism is the best for Nigeria,  because it allows maturity at the upper House. The Senators in question are knowledgeable and matured in their chosen careers before being elected.

They can make laws better and quicker. Some members of the lower House are  not so experienced like the upper House. Again, most of the Senators are professionals, which  gives them credence over and above the lower House.

Honestly speaking, the  lower House is closer, without only to Local Government.

A member of the House of Representatives  supposedly  ought to be more representative, because of his or her closeness to the people.

Unfortunately the reverse is the case under our nascent democracy in Nigeria. Some of our representatives, once given the mandate, you will not sight them again until they are ready for another mandate.

Our democracy is at infancy. Politicians refused to grow with the practice.

Olugbenga Adeola Omole, Politician

One, presently in Nigeria, we are operating the biicameral system in our National Assembly,  where we have the legislative arms different from the executive arms. And this is constitutional.

 We practice bicameral in Nigeria, where they  practice the bicameral, under the presidential system.

What we do in Nigeria is copied from  the American system, where there is independence of the legislature. The presidential system of government in the world consists of the three major arms of government, which are  the executives, the legislative and the judiciary.

For me personally, I don’t think we are ripe for the unicameral system in our National Assembly.

I don’t think so, for obvious reasons. Even with  the bicameral system here, you can see a lot of challenges we are facing. Even the man  made disaster we  are facing. A typical example is what  is going on now at our legislative arms today. You can see some leaders of the National Assembly at logger head with the presidency.

Imagine if it  is unicameral we are  practicing and we have this kind of characters, they would have put the country in chaos.

My own view is that Nigeria should still make do with the bicameral legislature, and the presidential form of government.

On getting  closer to the people, it depends on the type of leadership and government, either unicameral or bicameral.  It depends on the leadership, integrity and personality of leaders that hold  office, that determines how dividends of democracy will  reach  the people at the grassroots.

Barr. Charles Titiloye, legal Practitioner

The Unicameral National Assembly will leave only the Senate, while the House of Representatives will be abolished.

The advantages of unicameral legislature is as follows:

One it will reduce the  cost of government spending on salaries and wages of National Assembly members.

Secondly, there will be quick passage of bills by the one chamber house.

Thirdly, there will be equal representation of states at the National Assembly as only three members will represent each states.

Moreover, it will put an end to duplication of constituencies between senatorial and House of representative constituency.

Part time membership will also encourage participation of professionals and make the national assembly less attractive to career politicians.

The people will be able to make their representative at National Assembly responsible to their needs, as there will not be duplicity of lawmakers representing the same area at the National Assembly.

Finally, the cost of maintenance of offices of principal officers of National Assembly will be reduced.

Barrister Paul Attah, legal practitioner

The branch of government saddled with the responsibility of law making is the legislature.

The basic kind of legislature recognised by the world today is unicameral and bicameral legislatures.

Here, a central single unit is empowered to make law and formulate policies for government.

State practising the unicameral system of totality has unitary system of government, with similar culture, regional background with common  language.

In my humble opinion, I think that bicameral  legislature being the most preferred with our modification is better.

However,  being an expensive type, there should be a  total cut down on allowances and salaries of the legislature.

I will suggest reduction in the number of Senators and House of Representatives’ members. Also, constituencies and senatorial districts should be reviewed, while we have in mind, the amendment of the 1999 constitution.