By Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja
On Thursday 24th July 2024, it was reported that there was an altercation between the Senate President, AKPABIO and the Majority Leader of the Senate, named Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB).
Disputes and conflicts are inevitable in the course of interactions between humans, legislators and Legislatures or other government institutions.
However, it is the ability to manage and RESOLVE these disputes in an amicable manner that provides evidence of capable leadership of legislative institutions.
This is what is called PARLIAMENTARY DIPLOMACY.
For example, as evidence of his parliamentary diplomacy skills, the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas has successfully managed his relationship and interactions with his Deputy Speaker and Majority Leader of the House of Representatives.
Not many Nigerians are aware of the frictions and stresses arising from seeming acts of insubordination and embezzlement of public funds by his subordinates.
As a true leader, the Speaker of the House of Representatives has reprimanded these subordinates in private, away from public view.
To the contrary, the President of the Senate, has been embroiled in public spats with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and now the Senate Majority Leader.
Regarding the altercation of the 24th July 2025, it was reported as follows:
“The senator regretted that the rift between Natasha/Akpabio “has consumed the goodwill of the senate before the public,” adding that Senator Opeyemi has “threatened to quit his position if Akpabio continues to act autocratically.”
The purpose of this write-up is to encourage the Senate President to spend this period of recess to undertake a mandatory REFRESHER Course in Parliamentary Diplomacy.
This is a course that I wrote the curriculum for when I was first appointed as an Adjunct Lecturer at the Institute for Legislative Studies, University of Abuja in the year 2018.
It appears that this Institute for Legislative Studies, University of Abuja is the only Nigerian institution that offers this course.
I offer myself to teach this refresher course at no cost to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, provided that they provide a venue and my hotel accommodation and airfare costs.
I also had the opportunity to increase my knowledge of this course when later the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) approved my membership of the Inter-Parliamentary Engagement Network (IPEN) which is based at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom.
I was also privileged to work as a consultant with the Czech Republic-Nigeria Parliamentary Friendship Group.
“Parliamentary diplomacy refers to the activities of parliamentarians in promoting their country’s interests and values through international interactions, often complementing traditional diplomatic efforts by the executive branch. It involves dialogue, cooperation, and advocacy on global issues, fostering mutual understanding and influencing foreign policy.”
It can also refer to the skill set that is necessary for leaders of legislatures to navigate through their tenures.
It is never too late to learn.
The views expressed by contributors are strictly personal and not of Law & Society Magazine.
If lawmakers took legislative learning as seriously as political posturing, maybe the Senate would serve more and distract less. A refresher course sounds like a wise start.