The Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) Professor Abubakar Sulaiman has revealed that the legislative arm of government is crucial for the country to survive the current myriad of problems confronting it.
Sulaiman explained that the 1999 constitution as amended empowered the lawmakers both at federal and the state level to come up with workable and acceptable laws that would in ensuring unity and development across all sectors of governance.
The NILDS DG spoke while declaring open the two-day capacity building workshop for members of the Abia State House of Assembly in Owerri, Imo state capital.
He said, “It is in this regard that the legislature assumes greater relevance, as one arm of government that represents the interests of Nigerians. As a deliberative and legislative assembly, it is the only institution empowered by the 1999 Constitution to provide lasting solutions to the myriad problems that confront the country.
“Legislators are meant to crystallise the collective ambitions and desires of all Nigerians and develop appropriate legal frameworks that promote inclusion, unity and prosperity for all. Additionally, legislators have a responsibility to exercise oversight over the executive.
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“Hence, the legislature is one of the most important institutions of public accountability in the country. It is a watchdog over the executive to reduce waste, guarantee value for money and impose sanctions on erring government officials.
Together with the judiciary, supreme audit institutions and the civil society, the legislature exercises control over and limits the excessive powers enjoyed by the executive especially in developing democracies like ours characterised by a long history of military dictatorship and executive dominance.”
While commending the Abia house of Assembly for the contribution to nation’s building with relevant laws and motions, Sulaiman expressed optimism the training would further help in strengthening the capacity of members to act as watchdog to the executive arm.
In a related development, the Director General at a two-day workshop for clerks and legislative aides in Owerri for KAS partnering states noted that the contribution of these aides to the attainment of the legislative agendas cannot be overemphasized.
While regretting the roles being given to legislative aides by lawmakers in the country, Suleiman stressed that they ought to be,” sectoral experts and professionals with sound academic background and an in-depth knowledge of the legislature and legislative practices.
“Regrettably, however, in most cases, legislative aides have been reduced to performing non-specialised and sometimes debasing jobs such as holding the bags of Members and picking phone calls. Some have described legislative aides as ‘thugs for politicians’. This is an erroneous conception of aides,” he said.
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