THE testy relationship between the Senate and the Presidency was tried once again last week when a newly-appointed Director-General of the National Lottery Commission, Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila, started functioning without first being confirmed by the Senate.

The debate over the configuration of the Nigerian federation and in particular, the level of autonomy local governments should enjoy remains as lively as ever. Lawyers and politicians would in the foreseeable future continue to ponder the question on whether Nigeria is a two-tier or three-tier federation and the mode of relationship between the states and local governments.

Legislatures all over the world are usually the butt of criticisms and jokes, and Nigerian parliaments are no different. Despite the fact that our Senate and House of Representatives (the National Assembly, NASS) tower above their state counterparts in the core constitutional functions of legislation, appropriation, and oversight, it is still mired in a withering image problem due mainly to the lack of transparency in its internal financial affairs.

THE recent maltreatment meted out to some female personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Port Harcourt, by a superior officer speaks volumes of how official power is frequently excessively exercised among our uniformed services.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s appearance at the Friday, May 5, 2017, Jumat Service and his return to the United Kingdom for follow-up medical treatment on Sunday, May 7, 2017, ended weeks of speculations about his health condition. The concern followed the President’s three consecutive absences at the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings.