Chairman, Security, Climate Change and Special Interventions Committee on the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Rep. Sam Onuigbo, has proposed the enactment of legislation for the prosecution of climate change actions.
Laws serve as guardrails for the implementation of policies and programmes, he argued, stressing that even those engaged in policy formulation must act within the ambits of the law.
Onuigbo, who spoke to journalists in his office in Abuja, on Wednesday – today, February 5 – on the imperatives of the recent validation retreat on the Draft Model Climate Change Law for Africa, explained that the event, which was organised by an international Non-Governmental Organisation, the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES), in conjunction with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Abuja, was a continuing effort to equip Africans for effective climate actions.
The former lawmaker argued that African nations stand to gain enormously if they work together in the ongoing global battle for sustainability, stressing that although only Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda have enacted climate change laws, a draft model climate change law will assist further continental inclusion.
Onuigbo, who was recognised in November 2023 by the New York-based Business Insider, among 30 Top Global Leaders addressing Climate crisis, commended Dr. George Wamukoya, the team lead of AGNES, Nairobi; and Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, the Director General of NILDS, for convening and hosting the all-important retreat in Abuja.
He stated: “It is imperative for us to work together to guide other African nations that do not yet have legislation on climate change. This is very important, because legislation serves as guardrails for implementers. Even for those who are formulating policies, the policies have to be formulated within the provisions of the law.
“This is important to move away from the danger of policy somersaults that have been the bane of so many programmes in developing nations with Africa as a case study. Laws will guide; you will operate within the laws in your actions.
“You do not come in either as a minister or director general, or even president to change the laws at your whims and caprices. So, this is why it is important.
“Above all, the interesting thing about the validation retreat is that those who are leading, especially the team lead, George Wamukoya, is from Kenya. They have their own climate change law. Walters Tubua of UNFCCC, Hon. Emile Guirieoulou, Chair of Africa Network of Parliamentarians on Climate Change.
“Dr. Rose Mwebaza, who comes from Uganda, is a Director at the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya. Uganda has a Climate Change Act.
“Samuel Ifeanyi Onuigbo, who participated, played a role on this project, beginning from 2023, sponsored the climate change law for Nigeria.
“So, it is not as if we are looking for what to do, but realizing that there is a need for all the African nations to have laws to guide them so that we act almost in the same manner, or similar ways, in addressing the issues arising from climate change.”
Onuigbo, who is representing the Southeast on the Governing Board of NEDC, lamented that African countries do not have the advantages enjoyed by developed countries that have already provided some infrastructure to use to respond to disasters.
“Therefore, we have to protect ourselves by doing what we need to do to develop in a sustainable manner. That’s the overall essence of the retreat. And the contributions from some of us were such that those countries without laws on climate change will see that they truly need these laws. That is indisputable.
“But again, different countries – and of course, I made this emphasis, and I would like to repeat it here – different countries have different political structures. For some African countries, the head of government is a prime minister, probably with a ceremonial president. In some others, you have executive presidents without a prime minister.
“So, these laws will not come as an imposition, but as something that people can adopt to their own country. But, they should take cognizance of those critical provisions that can help them to run their system in the most efficient and effective way,” he declared.
Onuigbo, who was inducted into the National Assembly Hall of Fame as one of the five Most Valuable Parliamentarians (MVP), stressed that in order to be able to apply the law across the continent, stakeholders must hold constant consultations across national parliaments.
According to the climate change activist, the consultations are necessary to ensure that the laws conform with the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032).
Putting the Abuja validation retreat in perspective, the former lawmaker stated: “There also must be consultations across regional bodies like ECOWAS, like SADEC, and of course, there must be endorsement and approval by the African Union and the Pan African Parliament.
“So, that once undertaken, these consultations will now help the leaders of these countries to know about the things we can do.
“That’s the essence of the validation retreat on the Draft Model Climate Change Law for Africa.
“And there were representatives from UNEP, the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), which is the key organ of the United Nations, that implements things about climate change.
“Then, also in attendance, were representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
“So, with NILDS, if you put them together with AGNES, you will then appreciate that this is something for which we are trying to carry everybody along and make sure we have a lot of the facts.”
In his remarks at the event, the NILDS DG, Prof. Sulaiman, noted that a collective action is needed among the 54 African nations to fight the climate change challenge, adding that bridging the infrastructure gap is very necessary, even as he lamented lack of funds to fight the menace, such as addressing flooding, particularly.
