Nigeria’s former president, Goodluck Jonathanhas has commended previous National Assembly leaders and members for living up to their responsibilities.
Speaking at the Champions of Nigerian Content Awards Dinner in Bayelsa on Wednesday, Jonathan threw a subtle jab at the current National Assembly.
The former president while recalling his time in office said the lower and the upper chambers stayed alive to their responsibilities.
He also stated that the National Assembly during his time as president between 2011 and 2015 was very robust.
“When I was acting President in 2010, and the National Assembly presented the bill, I promptly signed it and we quickly established a monitoring body.
“Someone like Lee Maeba, the bill’s originator, and his group also deserve recognition. That was a period when the National Assembly truly lived up to its name,” Jonathan said.
He further noted that in Nigeria, in the process of lawmaking, the National Assembly can always exercise the veto.
Giving an instance, Jonathan said in a situation where the president fails to assent to a bill within the period of 30 days, the National Assembly can reconvene and, with a two-thirds majority calculated by headcount, not voice vote—enact the bill into law.
“That is how the NDDC Act came into being, thanks to a truly vibrant National Assembly,” he added.
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