As national and sub-national governments debate how to reopen the Nigerian economy amidst the shortage of sufficient domestic resources and fiscal space to fund adequate response and recovery measures, the events of the last few months have showed clearly where the priorities of government should be. In the effort to get Nigerians to flatten the curve and to revive our economy, the review of the House of Representatives legislative agenda provides an important window of opportunity in creating the necessary legal framework for the “stronger communities, stronger Nigeria” that we all want to see as we recover.
All the steps taken in addressing the pandemic not only tested our system and infrastructure deficits but also helped to see where we should focus attention on our road to recovery. At a time when we are already weighed down by job losses, debts, looming recession, and economic crisis, we need a cohesive legislative agenda that helps us build back better as a country. We cannot run business as usual; that is why one welcomes the interest of the House of Representatives to review its legislative agenda.
This is the right thing to do as reviewing the legislative agenda is one part of the response to the pandemic. It is a mitigation strategy, which helps keep our response to the pandemic within a legal framework that is responsive and sustainable. We must not lose the lessons of COVID-19 in the review of the legislative agenda.
When the pandemic broke, all stakeholders were interested in helping the poor and the vulnerable, but it was difficult as we do not have a strong social protection system and data was lacking. Working from home for those who can was tough, while Internet and electricity were a luxury. Schools were closed but some who could afford it were learning online while the School on TV initiative by some state governments depended on the availability of electricity. Handwashing was a saving grace but not all have access to running water in their houses. Social distancing, we are told, is important, but our rooms are crowded, as housing is a problem. Our classrooms and lecture rooms are crowded pre-COVID-19.
Weeks into the pandemic, we saw an increase in the number of gender-based violence across the country, as the lockdown victims spent more hours with their violators. Businesses are shutting down and unwanted pregnancies likely to increase, further adding to our population. Pre-COVID-19, government services largely depended on citizens showing up physically and in long queues to access such services. We depended on China and other countries for things we could produce; but we have eaten our local rice, at least that is what I have been eating.
So far, this argument is to situate the realities of our COVID-19 experience within the review of the House of Representatives legislative agenda in ways that ensure we can build back better. So, what should be the focus of the legislative agenda? I think any legislation coming out of the House and indeed the National Assembly post-COVID-19 must cover and prioritise the following issues that are essential to the survival and sustainability of the average Nigerian:
- Social protection
- Identity management
- Digital inclusion
- Financial inclusion
- Internet affordability, accessibility, and meaningful connectivity
- Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
- E-governance including electronic voting
- Gender Based Violence
- Electricity
- Industrial Growth
- Livelihoods and decent jobs
- Food security
- Education
- Housing and
- Health systems strengthening including alternative medicine.
The next few months will be difficult; however, we can prepare ourselves now and for the next pandemic if we focus the parliament’s legislative agenda, debates, oversight and resolutions around these issues while also ensuring that the 2021, 2022 and 2023 national budgets prioritise these issues amongst other national realities. Our ability to survive the next pandemic and accelerate the country’s attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 will depend on how well we prioritise these issues amongst other national needs, both as executive and legislative arms of government, citizens, and citizen organisations and of course not leaving the private sector behind.