NIGERIA’S PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATIONS

Since return to democratic rule in 1999, Nigeria has participated in several international parliamentary organizations. Prior to the return to democracy, Nigeria had been suspended from participating in these organizations since only countries practicing democracy with evident legislatures are admitted. The aims and objectives of these organizations are geared towards improving the status of member countries. Some of these organizations include but not limited to the following:

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)       

The IPU is an international organization which brings together representatives from the legislature in the member states. While it shares the UN objectives, supports its effort and works in close relation with the organization, it also works to enhance peace and cooperation among peoples and for the firm establishment of representative institutions.

Membership of the organization as stipulated in Article of the IPU Statues states that; the Inter-Parliamentary Union shall be comprised of National Groups representing their respective Parliaments. It is presently comprised of 162 Member Parliaments and 10 Associate Members.

Following return to democracy in 1999, the Nigerian government applied for re-admission into the body. The Council of the IPU at its sitting during the 103^rd Conference held in Berlin, Germany resolved to approve the Nigerian request to re-affiliate with the Union as a National Group.

Subscription is mandatory for each National Group who may not be allowed to vote if they owe financial arrears equalling or exceeding the amount of its contribution for the preceding two full years.

Voting is done in a manner that only delegates present in person shall have the right to vote and every member-state is entitled to 10 votes and additional number of votes with regards to her population. Nigeria is entitled to 20 votes. It is interesting to note that any delegation that is composed with parliamentarians of same sex for 3 consecutive years shall have a minimum of 8 votes instead of 10.

The Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (ASGP) is a consultative organ of the IPU made up of Clerks of Parliaments and Senior Parliamentary Officials. Since 1999, Nigeria has been an active player in the Organization and its delegation is usually led by the President of the Senate.

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is an Association of Commonwealth Parliamentarians “who irrespective of gender, race, religion or culture are united by a community of interests, respect for the rule of law and individual rights and freedom, and by pursuit of the positive ideals of Parliamentary democracy”.

The CPA’s aims and objectives as stated in Article 1(1) and (2) of its Constitution are to “promote knowledge of the Constitutional, Legislative, economic, social and cultural aspects of parliamentary democracy, with particular reference to the countries of the Commonwealth of Nations”.

A country is accepted as a member of the Association upon written application by the Legislature to the Secretary General of the Association.

Nigeria’s participation in the CPA dates back to the post-independence Parliament of the Federal Republic. Nigeria hosted the Association’s Conference for the first time in 1962 in Lagos. Following Nigeria’s long years of military rule, Nigeria lost its membership of the Organization but was re-admitted in 1999 at the 45^th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held in Trinidad and Tobago. Membership fees are paid according to units of members in a country. In Nigeria, the National Assembly pays €39,690 annually as the membership fee while all the states who are members pay about €7,000 - €10,000. Thus, a country is suspended from the CPA if it owes membership fees of over 12 months in arrears. The Nigerian delegation to the CPA is usually led by the Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Nigeria has held the following offices since re-admission in 1999:

1.      Hon. Ghali U. Na’Abba -        Chairman CPA (Africa Region) August                                                         2001 - 2002.

2.      Hon. Mohammed Wakil  -        Member CPA Executive Committee                                                   September 2000 – June, 2003.

3.      Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa    -        Senior Representative, Commonwealth                                                         Women Parliamentarians (CWP)                                                                   September 2002 – June, 2003.

4.      Hon. Farouk M. Lawan   -        Member CPA Executive Committee June,                                           2003 – September 2003.

5.      Sen. Daisy Danjuma        -        Senior Representative, Commonwealth                                                         Women Parliamentarians (CWP) June,                                                                    2003 – September 2003.

6.      Hon. Aminu Bello Masari          -        President CPA 2005 – 2006

7.      Hon. Peter N. Jiya           -        Alternate Regional Representative 2005 –                                           2007

8.      Hon. Binta Masi Garba   -        Vice President, Commonwealth          Women                                              Parliamentarians (CWP), 2008 – 2010

9.      Hon. Francis Ada            -        Regional Representative CPA (Africa                                                  Region), 2013

10. Hon. Christina Alaaga     -        Vice President, Commonwealth Women                                             Parliamentarians (CWP), 2013  

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Africa Region)

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Africa Region) is an organization of the National Parliaments and Provincial/ State Territorial Legislatures of member-countries of the Commonwealth on the continent of Africa. It became part of the CPA in 1948 and holds its Regional Plenary Conference annually.

Its aims and objectives are

·        To promote the interest of Africa into the Commonwealth and beyond

·        To promote knowledge and education concerning the constitutional, legislative, economic, social and cultural systems of member countries in the Region and beyond

·        To promote and maintain gender equality and emancipation of women

·        To promote respect for Human Rights and Freedom

·        To pursue the ideals of democracy and good governance.

Membership of the CPA (Africa Region) is open to National, Provincial, State or Territorial Legislatures of member-country in Africa. National Assembly pays $1,800 as membership dues to the organization. The Association currently has 19 members and 45 sub-national branches.

Hon. Daniel Reyenieju, House committee Chairman Inter-parliamentary Relations

Hon. Daniel Reyenieju from the House of Representatives of Nigeria is currently the Vice President CPA (Africa Region).

ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly

The ACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly was created to bring together the elected representatives of the European Union (the Members of the European Parliament) and the elected representatives of the African, Caribbean and Pacific states (ACP countries) that have signed the Cotonou Agreement which invariably states the status of the organization

Following the return of democratic rule in 1999, Nigeria commenced the attendance of meetings and Conferences. Consequently, Nigeria hosted the 30^th Session of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly in Abuja in 2000.

The roles of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly as a consultative body include the following:

• promote democratic processes through dialogue and consultation;
• facilitate greater understanding between the peoples of the European Union and those of the ACP :States and raise public awareness of development issues;
• discuss issues pertaining to development and the ACP-EU Partnership;
• adopt resolutions and make recommendations to the Council of Ministers with a view to achieving the objectives of this Agreement.

The Joint Parliamentary Assembly meets twice a year in plenary session, alternately in the European Union and in an ACP State.

African Parliamentary Union (APU)

The African Parliamentary Union (APU) is an international parliamentary continental organization founded in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, on the 13^th February 1976. Its Constitution was modified and adopted at the 22^nd Conference of the Union in Luanda, Angola, in 1999. The National Parliament of any African State is allowed to apply for membership of the organization. Upon admission each national parliament constitutes a national group. It is interesting to also note that it is mandatory that each delegation of a national group to the session of the organization should include at least one woman.

The main objectives of the Union are;

·        To bring together Parliamentary Institutions of all African States;

·        To encourage contacts among African Parliamentarians on one hand and between African Parliamentarians and Parliamentarians of other continents on the other hand.

·        To contribute to the strengthening of Parliamentary Institutions in Africa, the promotion of democracy and Human Rights, and the realization of the objectives of the Organization of African Unity (now African Union) for the establishment of durable peace.

At present, about 40 national parliaments are members of the APU including Nigeria.

Pan-African Parliament (PAP)

The PAN-African Parliament also known as the African Parliament is the legislative organ of the African Union. It was adopted by a Protocol during the OAU Summit in Lome, Togo in 2000 and was established in March 2004, by Article 17 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, as one of the nine Organs provided for in the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community signed in Abuja, Nigeria, in 1991.

The objectives of the Pan-African Parliament include:

·        Facilitate the effective implementation of the policies and objectives of the OAU/AEC and, ultimately, of the African Union;

·        Promote the principles of human rights and democracy in Africa;

·        Encourage good governance, transparency and accountability in Member States;

·        Familiarize the peoples of Africa with the objectives and policies aimed at integrating the African continent within the framework of the establishment of the African Union;

·        Promote peace, security and stability;

·        Contribute to a more prosperous future for the people of Africa by promoting collective self-reliance and economic recovery;

·        Facilitate cooperation and development in Africa

·        Strengthen Continental solidarity and build a sense of common destiny among the peoples of Africa;

·        Facilitate cooperation among Regional Economic Communities and their Parliamentary fora.

Membership of the Parliament comprises of 265 representatives elected by the Parliaments of 47 of the 54 African Union states.

Hon. Bethel Nnaemeka Amadi from the House of Representatives of Nigeria is the current President, Pan-African Parliament.

 

Parliamentary Friendship Group

In addition to the parliamentary organizations discussed above, the National Assembly also establish relationship ties with other countries under what is called Parliamentary Friendship Groups. Examples include the Nigeria – Saudi Arabia, Nigeria – France, Nigeria – Turkey, Nigeria Sao Tome & Principe etc. There are over 15 of such friendship groups currently existing in the National Assembly.

Conclusion

It is expected that Nigeria’s participation to these organizations is beneficial to the legislature in particular and Nigeria at large. However, evaluating such benefits may be another subject of discussion.