Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has praised the National Assembly of the past for its robust independence, highlighting its ability to override presidential vetoes on key legislation.
Jonathan made these remarks on Wednesday evening at the Champions of Nigerian Content Awards Dinner hosted by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where he was honored with the Nigerian Content Lifetime Achievement Award.
Reflecting on his tenure, Jonathan expressed enthusiasm about signing the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Bill into law.
He credited Senator Lee Maeba of Rivers State and his colleagues for sponsoring a bill that emerged from a proactive and assertive legislature.
“When I was acting President in 2010, the National Assembly submitted this bill, and I signed it without delay. We swiftly set up a regulatory body to oversee its implementation. People like Lee Maeba and his team deserve great recognition for their effort. That period was truly when the National Assembly lived up to its constitutional role,” Jonathan stated.
He also recalled the legislative body’s firm stance in passing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act into law despite resistance from then-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“In 2000, the National Assembly overrode President Obasanjo’s veto of the NDDC bill. Usually, in many countries, it is the President who has the final say on bills. But in Nigeria, the process allows the National Assembly to act decisively if the President does not assent to a bill within 30 days. With a two-thirds majority by headcount, the legislature can pass the bill into law without the President’s approval,” he explained.
Jonathan concluded by commending Senator Lee Maeba and his team for their contributions to these significant legislative achievements.
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