Senator Ned Munir Nwoko’s work in the 10th National Assembly of Nigeria since its inauguration on June 13, 2023, deserves attention. Undoubtedly, the lawmaker representing the Delta North senatorial district is one of the most talked-about Senators in the 10th Senate and, of course, one of the Senators who has made the most news headlines since assuming office.
When Senator Nwoko assumed office as a senator, it wasn’t just the people of Delta North who held high expectations for his tenure. Nigerians across the country and abroad were also looking forward to his contributions. The reason behind this widespread anticipation is clear: Senator Nwoko’s prominence didn’t originate from his senatorial position. He had already established himself as a successful billionaire businessman and an accomplished international lawyer. Hence, when he declared his intentions to vie for the senatorial seat, many were eagerly anticipating the unique perspectives this unconventional Nigerian politician would bring to the forefront.
It’s safe to affirm that Senator Ned Nwoko is exceeding expectations in the 10th Senate. He has fearlessly and effectively addressed issues that were considered untouchable and off-limits—matters that many have avoided for years.
Beyond supporting significant motions presented by Senators from his region and bringing urgent petitions from his constituents to the Senate floor, Senator Nwoko initiated a groundbreaking motion. His first major motion addressed the urgent necessity to investigate the persistent and unlawful acts of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region, shedding light on the individuals involved—the “powerful Nigerians”—which reverberated across the nation.
With unwavering determination to safeguard Nigeria’s economic backbone, Nwoko spearheaded this bold motion. This issue wasn’t just another item on the agenda; it stood as a matter of paramount importance for the nation. The crisis of crude oil theft, a significant threat to the country’s prosperity, had reached a critical juncture, demanding immediate attention in the Senate. The daring move to bring such a motion forward was taken by the audacious and determined Ned Nwoko.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the Senate committed to decisive action. Pertinent Senate committees and security agencies are actively pursuing solutions to address this epidemic that is debilitating the nation’s economy.
Likewise, Senator Nwoko, acknowledging the prevalent issue of insecurity as a national menace, proposed a motion for urgent actions to strengthen security measures and counter the surge of kidnappings in Nigeria, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory. During the motion, he expressed concern that neglecting to promptly address the kidnapping crisis in Nigeria, specifically in the Federal Capital Territory, could result in social unrest, loss of confidence in governance, humanitarian toll, econonmic decline, increased insecurity and potential international implications, all of which could profoundly impact the nation’s stability, prosperity, and international standing.
Among his requests in the motion, he urged the Inspector-General of Police to oversee the installation of CCTV cameras in strategic areas within and around Abuja, highways, and other major capital cities to enhance surveillance and discourage criminal activities. This aspect of the motion immediately brought a crucial matter to the Senate’s attention. Evidently, the previous Assembly had awarded a multimillion-dollar contract for installing CCTV cameras in Abuja, yet the project was poorly executed. Consequently, the Senate has directed the appropriate authorities to investigate this issue while also considering other requests presented in the motion.
Regarding Bills, Nwoko has submitted a considerable number awaiting their first reading. While several other bills he proposed are still pending their initial reading, his bills on diaspora voting and waste management and malaria eradication agency have successfully passed the first reading. The lawmaker has crafted numerous breathtaking bills, notably unusual and uncommon ones. However, for the purpose of this documentation, only those submitted up to the time of this write-up will be mentioned. They include:
▪︎A bill for an Act to Repeal the Coroners Act CAP C17 laws of the Federal 2004 and Re-Enact the Coroners Systems Act and other Related Matters 2023
▪︎A bill for an Act to Establish the Nigerian Youth Entrepreneurs Grant Scheme with an Agency for Oversight.
▪︎A bill for an Act to Establish laws governing the election of Nigerians into the ECOWAS Parliament.
Senator Nwoko holds key positions as the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and the Senate Committee on Sports and development. Additionally, he’s an active member of several crucial Senate committees such as Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, TETFUND, Works, Drugs and Narcotics, Finance, States and Local Governments, NDDC, Police, Primary Healthcare Development and Disease Control, Defence, and Communication.
Despite potential opportunities to chair other committees, he opted to remain a floor member in committees directly related to his constituents’ needs and the causes he champions. He emphasized that contributing meaningfully to committees focusing on issues important to his constituency is more valuable than holding chairmanship titles in committees that might not address their specific concerns.
During the vetting of nominees for the positions of Central Bank of Nigeria governor and deputies, Senator Nwoko, known for highlighting the impacts of neocolonialism in Africa, proposed the idea that Africa should consider practicing international isolation to foster economic growth. He emphasized Africa’s self-sufficiency as a continent possessing all the resources necessary for survival.
Senator Nwoko queried the nominees about their support for a common currency in Africa, proposing it as a means to promote economic independence on the continent, thereby reducing reliance on the dollar. He suggested that such a currency strategy could facilitate internal growth within Africa’s production, manufacturing, tourism sectors, and others.
He also inquired whether the nominees would endorse the notion of reducing Nigeria’s excessive reliance on US dollars and establishing a stable value for the Naira. His proposal involved repatriating the country’s foreign reserves from America to Nigeria, placing them under the management of the nation’s commercial banks. Under strict regulations and directives, these banks would be tasked with lending to young Nigerian entrepreneurs at an interest rate not exceeding 4 percent, as per his suggestion.
This concise overview would overlook significant aspects of Nwoko’s accomplishments since assuming office without mentioning his letter to the British government. In the letter, he demanded an apology and reparations for slavery and the inhumane exploitation of Africans, specifically referencing Nigeria. Though he hasn’t yet brought this issue to the Senate floor, the fact that the British government responded and acknowledged their role in enabling the slave trade makes Nwoko’s effort noteworthy. He has expressed intentions to move the motion when the Senate reconvenes.
Senator Ned Munir Nwoko’s strides in the Senate have been undeniably remarkable and praiseworthy. An admirer of his work, a Moroccan ambassador, explicitly remarked that if Ned Nwoko were Nigeria’s head of state, the nation would stand among the developed countries. This assertion stems from Nwoko’s exceptional attention to even the minutest governmental details that are often overlooked. Considering his track record, it’s hard not to concur with such sentiments.
His colleagues often refer to him as “oyibo” due to his distinct demeanor, unique perspectives on national and global issues, and resolute advocacy for governmental dialogues with separatist groups, consumer rights emphasizing lending rate caps at 4%, and championing reparations—topics many shy away from due to fear of backlash from Western societies. Why such audacity? Well, Senator Ned Nwoko’s intrepidity stems from his extensive Western education and exposure, having pursued studies in the UK—law and history at the University of Keele, a Master’s in Law at the University of London, and becoming a barrister at Lincoln’s Inn and a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales.
Notably, he hails from a distinguished lineage; his grandfather, His Royal Highness Obi Omorghusi Nkeze Nwoko, was in the Western House of chiefs, he was a delegate to London during Nigeria’s constitutional conferences that led to its independence. Senator Ned Nwoko’s pedigree and experiences undoubtedly set him apart in the Senate, making him one of the most exposed and one of the wealthiest individuals there.
|Notes from Dr. Michael Nwoko, Senior Special Assistant on Health Monitoring to the Delta State Governor and Chief of Staff to Senator Prince Ned Munir Nwoko.
