Since the inception of this republic in 1999, the National Assembly has been enmeshed in various allegations of corruption both moral and financial.

It is quite disturbing that Nigerians, in the last 12 years, have been regaled with graft allegations emanating from an institution that is supposed to be one of the strongest fulcrums of democracy.

The first dose of moral corruption in the National Assembly was in 1999 shortly after restoration of democracy. The Speaker of the first assembly, Alhaji Salisu Buhari, was accused of certificate forgery. The Senate President of the same first assembly, late Senator Evan Enwerem, was accused of allegations that bordered on his true identity. He too was later swept out of office.

The circumstances that led to the exit of late Senator Chuba Okadigbo, who succeeded Senator Ewerem, was somehow also corruption related. Perhaps, one of the biggest corruption allegations that have rocked the National Assembly was the N54 million bribery saga under the leadership of Senator Adolphus Wabara as Senate President.

The Ministry of Education allegedly bribed the Education Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives to enable them (committees) increase its budget. Wabara was forced to step down following pressure from the Presidency and the Senate.

Also the first female speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Etteh, was hounded out of office over sundry allegations levelled against her and some principal officers of the house.

Dimeji Bankole who replaced her ended his tenure as Speaker on a sour note as he and his Deputy, Hon Bayero Nafada were arrested by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) after Hon Dino Melaye and his group blew the whistle on their alleged misappropriation of funds.

The latest is the House Committee on Capital Market whose ex-chairman, Hon. Herman Hembe, is embroiled in alleged bribe demand. Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) Director-General, Ms Arunmah Oteh had accused committee members of seeking graft, failing which they went on an alleged witchhunt.

EFCC is currently investigating the matter.

The questions that beg answers are legion: Why does the National Assembly have persistent reputation for corruption? Corruption has been the greatest bane of the Legislative Branch since the return of democracy in 1999. As the branch of government saddled with the duty of financial appropriation and supervision of the execution of the budget, it is worrisome that the lawmakers cannot seem to stand up to their call to duty.

The main challenge towards turning around this situation is for the major political parties to be more careful in choosing the people they select to vie for offices on their platforms. We call on political parties and constituents to pay more attention to the conduct of their elected representatives and to always hold them to account. Bearing in mind that each time elected members get involved in unholy adventures the names of their constituencies and political parties are always dragged in the mud, they should make efforts to deter this unbridled hankering for money at all cost.

It is also high time we gave closer attention to the often suggested idea of part time legislative system. The current system that forces members to reside in Abuja with its superfluous cost of living might be a predisposing factor.

We must begin to draw the line or else the next session of the various assemblies will be even more corrupt than the ones before them.