He will notify Nigerians about the total number of bills the
Senate has passed and the total number of bills Mr. President has assented to
or rejected monthly or quarterly. Precisely, his duty is to keep Nigerians
abreast about the happenings in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
Third, he will challenge Nigerians to demand to know the salaries and
allowances of other elected Nigerians or government appointees just as
Nigerians are challenging those of the Senators. Fourth, a publicist for the
Senate will counter and rebuff attacks on the Senate in order to portray the
true happenings in the red chamber visa vice the happenings in the Executive
and Judicial arms of government. This is to diffuse the ranging anger of
Nigerians against the Senate while the other two arms of government enjoy a
measure of seeming supports from the same Nigerians that are hostile to members
of the National Assembly.
Perception is everything and perception is formed based on
the volume of information-negative or positive, an individual, groups of
persons or an organization release to the public at any given time frame. This
is why timely and positive release of information to the public through proper
information management is essential.
The best we have at the moment is that each Senator has a
media adviser to speak for them. Such media adviser recruited by individual Senator
can’t do the work of a publicist for the entire Senate-each media adviser
speaks for their principal and not for the entire Senate. This is why there is
no clearing house or coordinated and positive media release on behalf of the
entire Senate. This is not good for the Senate.
Though, Senate has one of their own as spokesperson for the
Senate but such a lawmaker can’t combine the onerous duties of law making with
that of publicist as stated earlier. The duties of a publicist demands tiresome
researches and daily studies so as to be equipped adequately to function
optimally. A serious lawmaker who is saddled with preparation, presentation of
bills and other legislative duties wouldn’t have the precious time to combine
and execute the duties of a publicist efficiently. What time does a Senator who
also doubles as the spokesperson for the Senate has to monitor the media in
order to know all the swipes thrown at the Senate on a daily bases? He doesn’t
just have that time! This is why it is fundamentally necessary for the Senate
to hire a neutral person as publicist to execute this all important job for the
upper chamber.
Thus, for the 9th Senate to be considered as
performing its duties and project a positive image among Nigerians, the tool of
internal lobby among the Senators and inter-government organs lobby between the
Senate and the Executive arm of government must be put into use. The erroneous
perception held by some Nigerians in certain quarters that lobby is tantamount
to bribery and corruption should be discarded. Lobbying is simply a tool of
persuasion-to sway your opponent or those who disagree with your position or
point of view, to buy or accept your presentation or point of view in a matter
in question. Why the call for the application of lobby between inter-government
organs? It is to ensure quick and smooth passage of bills and assent by Mr.
President. The major reason many bills were not passed by the 8th
Assembly was lack of the application of the tool of lobby. Lack of use of lobby
by the Senate and Executive prevented Mr. President from giving his assent to
40 bills passed by the 8th Assembly. In the 9th Assembly,
the tool of lobby as a matter of urgency must be applied to smooth the
relationship among members of the various political parties that constitute the
Senate and also have a convivial relationship with the Executive arm of
government.
Undoubtedly, the perception of the National Assembly
especially the Senate is not positive because Nigerians see the upper chamber
as corrupt and inept. This negative perception was built since the country
returned to democracy in 1999 because senators are not asking relevant
questions and keeping Nigerians abreast with their performances. Also, the
relationship between the Executive and the Legislature in the 8th
Assembly was not smooth but frosty hence Mr. President withheld his assent from
40 bills. Thus, for the 9th Assembly to be vibrant and exude
positive image among Nigerians and the world at large, the need for a publicist
is a necessity. A publicist will present the 9th Assembly positively
to Nigerians and the entire world. A publicist will inform Nigerians about the
numbers of bills the Senate has passed and the bills Mr. President assented to
or rejected. A publicist is a necessity- a must for the 9th
Assembly.
Victor Anya is a Public Affairs Analyst and Publicist.
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