Yabatech students organise summit to promote good legislation in Nigeria

The students of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) in Lagos have emphasised the importance of good legislation that will substantially impact the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

To this end, they organized a parliamentary summit under their umbrella body, the YABATECH Students’ Union Government, with the theme “Legislation in Our Society: What It Is and What It Ought to Be.”

The summit, the first of its kind in the history of the 77-year-old institution, recently took place, with several serving federal and state lawmakers in attendance.

Notable attendees included Moshood Oshun, a member of the House of Representatives, George Adegeye, who represents Amuwo-Odofin Constituency in the House of Representatives, and YABATECH’s Dean of Students’ Affairs, Alaba Olalekan.

Speaking at the forum, Mr. Oshun, who chaired the summit, commended YABATECH students for organizing the event. He expressed that the knowledge and exposure gained would be an eye-opener for them regarding the roles of legislators and political governance in the country.

He urged the students to engage in constructive criticism of political leaders when and where necessary, pointing out that criticism would keep political leaders accountable and encourage them to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities responsibly.

According to him, citizens have the right to demand positive change and good governance from political leaders, irrespective of their levels.

Oshun also highlighted that, aside from lawmaking, legislators are expected to act as a check on the executive arm, emphasizing that such checks will prevent them from acting contrary to their responsibilities.

In his contribution, George Adegeye, a federal lawmaker, expressed disappointment that various legislations, particularly in recent times, were unable to bring about the desired change for the country’s people.

Adegeye, represented by Mr. Obasi, urged the students not to be mere spectators but to be politically conscious and active even while in school. He emphasized that active participation would better prepare them for leadership roles.

Mr Ridwan Opeyemi, the President of the National Association of Polytechnic Students, called on lawmakers to enact laws that would benefit ordinary Nigerians and not just a select few.

He highlighted the beauty of democracy in guaranteeing the rule of law and the fundamental human rights of citizens, urging lawmakers to amend any grey areas of the constitution to reflect current needs.

Opeyemi also advocated for increased women’s participation in lawmaking, arguing that legislative business requires gender sensitivity in any society.

Earlier in his welcome address, Quadri Odewunmi, the Senate President of YABATECH Students’ Union, stated that the essence of the summit was to scrutinize issues surrounding Nigerian lawmakers enacting laws to impact lives.

He promised that the students’ union would continue to expose members to issues that enhance their studies and better prepare them for the future. He expressed gratitude to the guest speakers for accepting their roles at the event.