When Saraki assumed office, he pledged to declare transparency by starting an #OpenNass campaign whereby a transparent and credible legislature is practiced.
Take for example, the live streaming of the ministerial screening which took place from October 13 to 29. For the first time, the screening was live on social media especially Twitter, allowing citizens who do not have access to their televisions to follow the proceedings. This way, people feel like they are a part of the process without missing out.
The senate has also engaged citizens to submit questions, bill suggestions and also motions that should be considered, something former members of the house since 1999 never considered. The plenary which takes place three times a week is usually live streamed and tweeted on the official Twitter page, @ngrsenate, a first for improving Nigerians relationship with their representatives at
the senate.
Also introduced by the 8th Senate, is the iWitness Initiative where citizens are given the opportunity to post pictures and videos of their communities to relay their concerns to their representatives via social media.
The senate has also tried to create a sense of belonging for the youths through the Legislative Youth Focus Scheme (LYF), a way to include them in legislative decision-making. Its aim is to align the Nigerian youth with the global trend of governments – specifically legislatures – actively formulating policies that acknowledge the evolving role of young people in the 21st century society. In addition to this, there has also been the personalized public service engagement using geo-targeting available on social media
Even the special assistant on social media to the senate president, Bamikole Omisore, attests to the effectiveness of the new media in the eighth senate within the past months. In a chat with Naij.com, he said: “With the message released on his social media handle, we have received over 200 emails suggesting for amendment for bills. The use of new media continues to evolve and the 8th Senate is doing everything to stay on top on the the changes. So I will say the we have managed to effectively use new media not only as a means of communication but to also seek undiluted feedback from Nigerians.”
He noted that the use of new media in the 8th Senate is on the rise, with over 25 per cent of the members making use of new media compared to the 10 per cent in the previous senate
“The senate president has always said he hopes at the end of 8th Senate we will have all senators maintaining new media pages to update their constituents on a daily basis and to get feedback,” said Omisore.
When asked if it was a personalised platform for Saraki or a sustainable general platform, the special assistant said the new media has come to stay as the world progresses.
He said: “This noble initiative would have taking deep route that be it at the end of Saraki’s tenure and anyone that takes over will be able to sustain the success we would have recorded with new media.”
On why the eighth senate took this approach by giving more recognition to social media, Omisore concluded: “In the 7th Senate, Senator Saraki made it a point to use new media to carry his constituents and Nigerians at large along. And it played a huge part in the success recorded in last election.”
Now, some of the lawmakers actively share their views and communcate with their constituents through social media. Some of these lawmakers include Ben Murray-Bruce @benmurraybruce (Bayelsa East), Shehu Sani @shehusani (Kaduna Central), Dino Melaye @dino_melaye (Kogi West), Babajide Omoworare @jideomoworare (Osun east), Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos east), Mao ohuabunwa @Senohuabunwa (Abia North) , Sen Monsurat Sunmonu @monsuratspeaks (Oyo central), Binta Garba (Adamawa North @garbabinta), Godswill Akpabio @senAkpabio (minority leader) amongst others.
Although Twitter and Facebook had not come into existence in 1999 when the National Assembly came into play, the subsequent assemblies like the previous senate were making use of Twitter but were not as consistent as the present.
This is a norm in other developed countries around the world making the constituents and citizens feel closer and more involved in the parliament. It is beyond no doubt that Bukola Saraki has introduced a change into the Nigerian parliament that has come to stay.
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