NASS landlords – Lawmakers who have spent 20 years in Senate, House of Reps

Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, Nigeria has had four presidents – Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and incumbent Major General Muhammadu Buhari (back).

Each of the 36 states would have at least three governors during that period, but it would be worse if any of the rulers spent one four-year term. But in the National Assembly – the second national legislature, made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives – some legislators seem to be retaining permanent seats in the chambers.

Interestingly, some of them have been in parliament since 1999 and will complete their sixth term in 2023. Several members have been in the House or Senate or both since 2003, and would have spent less than 20 years in 2023 there. Council 9 ends. The members are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party. Some of them also changed parties as part of the process of re-election.

Opinions vary as to what is best between having long-term and new lawmakers every four years. Some people have argued that returning members have legal experience and an institutional memory of parliamentary practices and procedures. Former members of the former party often cite the example of U.S. parliaments with many longtime legislators, while the latter often argue that the Senate has become a ‘retirement home’ for former governors and former ministers.

Mutu, a common landowner in the Green Chamber

Representing the Bomadi / Patani Federal Constituency in Delta State, Nicholas Mutu has been in the House since 1999. He served as chair of the Niger Delta House Development Commission Committee between 2009 and 2019 – undoubtedly the longest-serving member of the same committee. . Not a single word is known when it comes to proposals and loans, documents submitted to the House Committee on the NDDC by Niger Delta Minister of State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, have indicated that Mutu is a commissioner of contract. While the committee headed by Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo investigated maladministration and fraud in the NDDC, Akpabio had pointed out that members of the National Assembly, especially the former leadership of the committee, benefited from the commission’s contracts. The list provided by the minister shows that Mutu had the highest number of NDDC programs listed against his name.

Lawan: From the green chamber to the position of president of the senate

The Acting President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has been in the National Assembly since 1999. He was first elected as a member of the House where he resided twice. There he represented the Bade / Jakusko Federal Constituency in Yobe State. In 2007, he was elected a member of parliament to represent the Yobe North Senatorial District and has held the position ever since. Lawan became President of the 9th Senate in 2019. Currently, he wants to be the President of Nigeria in 2023, which will depend on the outcome of the APC presidential election scheduled for Monday.

Gbajabiamila: From being a junior member to being a Speaker

Femi Gbajabiamila is currently the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in her fifth term. He has been in the House since 2003, representing the Surulere 1 Federal Constituency in Lagos State. The law was the minority leader of the House in the 7th National Assembly, and he later became the Majority Leader of the 8th Parliament after his hopes of becoming Speaker disappeared. Gbajabiamila also won an APC ticket for the sixth time in 2023.

Ndume: Two-letter rep, three-time Senator

Since 2003, Ali Ndume has been in the National Assembly. He first represented the Chibok / Damboa / Gwoza Federal Constituency in Borno State twice; 2003 to 2011, and in 2011 he was elected to represent the Senatorial Region of Borno South in the red room, the seat he has not retained so far. While sitting in the house Ndume tried to be President of the Senate from time to time. He was the Leader of the House of Representatives in the 8th Parliament but was ousted because of his political stand against the then-President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki. Ahmad Lawan, who is now the President of the Senate, replaces Ndume.

Ekweremadu: The longest serving officer

The Enugu West Senatorial District Attorney, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has held his fifth consecutive term, having been in the Senate since 2003. He tried to become President of the Senate in 2005 but failed. Senator Ken Nnamani has been replaced. However, Ekweremadu has been the Vice-President of the Senate three consecutive terms – 6th, 7th and 8th, for a period of 12 years, a record period as the presiding officer of the National Assembly. The lawyer had announced his retirement from the Senate in 2023. He joined the race for power in Enugu but lost the PDP ticket.

Leader: A member of parliament is on his knees

The Delta State Senatorial Delta State has had James Manager as its representative since 2003. The lawyer may not return with the 10th Council regarding his desire for sovereignty in the Delta. A photo showing the Mayor on his knees in front of former Delta Regional Governor James Ibori, a former convicted and politically motivated PDP god, was circulated online about a year ago.

Ogor: You once faced an opposition leader

Leo Ogor has represented the Isoko-North / Isoko-South Federal Constituency in the Delta State House of Representatives since 2003. He was the Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives in Council 7 and the Minority Leader in Council 8. Ogor’s success as a leader on both the many pages and the minority is on record, especially during heated debates with his rival at the time, Femi Gbajabiamila, who was also a Minority Leader and Majority Leader at various times.

Outstanding members of the 2007 class

Ado-Doguwa: From one Republic to another

Alhassan Ado-Doguwa is the current majority