Abuja: Lawmakers have called for stronger legislative synergy with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to boost Nigeria’s capacity for effective emergency management. Sen. Kaka Lawan, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, made the call on Wednesday at a NEMA legislative retreat in Abuja. The retreat was themed ‘Building a Resilient Nigeria: Strengthening Legislative Collaboration for Effective Emergency Management’ and aimed to foster improved coordination between lawmakers and the agency in addressing disaster challenges. Lawan, represented by Sen. Abdul Ningi, emphasized that the nation’s numerous emergencies, ranging from disease outbreaks to natural disasters, test its capacity but also present opportunities to strengthen institutions.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Lawan highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration between the legislature and implementing agencies such as NEMA, which is critical to building a truly resilient Nigerian society. He praised NEMA’s management for organizing the retreat, which he described as a platform for reflection, dialogue, and strategic alignment. Lawan explained that the legislature’s role in lawmaking, oversight, and implementation is vital to ensuring that emergency management systems are effective and adequately funded. He assured the agency of the committee’s continued support and commitment to creating enabling legislative frameworks.
Similarly, Rep. Joseph Bassey, Chairman of the House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Management, identified poor budgetary allocation to NEMA as a key challenge undermining its capacity. Bassey outlined a four-point agenda, including increasing NEMA’s funding, ensuring timely release of funds, and strengthening collaboration between the National Assembly and state agencies. He also advocated for the development of innovative financing mechanisms to strengthen preparedness and response at all levels.
Earlier, the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, in her keynote address, noted that the interactive session was designed to enhance understanding between the legislature and the agency on critical issues of disaster preparedness, response, and risk reduction. Umar, represented by NEMA’s Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Dr. Onimode Bandele, stated that the engagement was convened to harmonize NEMA’s relationship with the National Assembly. She emphasized the necessity of legislative backing for sustainable investment, institutional reforms, and policy frameworks essential for national resilience.
On his part, Bandele, in an interview with newsmen, expressed the agency’s intent to strengthen collaboration with the National Assembly to enhance its operations and bridge funding gaps. He added that the retreat aimed to bring together the National Assembly and NEMA management to assess the agency’s performance and identify areas for improvement. He also highlighted the need for legislative updates to NEMA’s act to account for emerging threats not considered when the act was first enacted in 1999.
The retreat featured a panel discussion on ‘Repositioning Nigeria’s Emergency Management Framework: The Role of the National Assembly.’ Panelists called for stronger commitment from the National Assembly Committees to deepen institutional collaboration, enhance legislative oversight, and remove legal and policy bottlenecks. They also advocated for increased investments in disaster-risk reduction and emergency-response infrastructure nationwide.