Southwest speakers, principal officers strategise for improved lawmaking

Speakers and principal officers of the six state Houses of Assembly in the South West recently gathered at the  Ikogosi Resorts to elevate legislative proficiency and equip themselves with practical strategies for the development of the region.

The retreat was held with a focus on enacting common legislation to tackle regional socio-economic challenges and deepen collaboration among the state legislative bodies in the southwest.

The retreat held in collaboration with the CAVISTA Holdings Limited,  the Policy and Legal Advocacy Center, (PLAC), and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office brought together Speakers of all the State assemblies in the region and their Principal Officers.

The lawmakers stretched their hands of fellowship to the National Assembly to broaden the interactive baseline. Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu and Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, were on hand to add panache clairvoyance to the event. This further laced the programme with high-level participations.

The lawmakers, at the event, identified some of the challenges impeding their legislative effectiveness and efficiency including financial autonomy, low ICT compliance, weak oversight functions, and poor recognition of representative democracy, among others.

They maturely restrained themselves from sulking over their challenges or embarked on brick batting. They rather engaged in intellectual brainstorming and proffered solutions that can bolster quality legislation. The lawmakers were only interested in putting the legislative arm on full throttle to deliver as a fulcrum on which the government rotates.

Declaring the event open, the Chairman of the Conference of Southwest Speakers and Ekiti Speaker, Rt Hon. Stephen Aribasoye, urged Nigerian lawmakers to be consistent in their passion to amplify the voices of the people they represent to reset the country’s future on the path of values and transformation.

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The Ekiti Speaker declared that the qualities of laws made by the legislative arm would form a solid springboard for the success of the country’s socio-economic and political spheres.

“As legislators, we occupy a strategic space in the governance framework of our country. Our work is not just about passing laws; it is about shaping the future of our communities and ensuring that the voices of our constituents are heard and represented.

“Our collective goal is to unlock innovative solutions to the pressing challenges we face in our regions. The theme of our gathering, ‘Strengthening Democratic Governance at the Subnational Level,’ is not merely a slogan; it reflects our commitment to driving significant change.

Aribasoye saluted the Speakers of the Houses of Assembly in the Southwest and other principal officers for their commitments to regional development, despite political differences and ideologies.

“Your presence here today is a testament to our collective dedication to improving governance and legislative practices in our regions. As we embark on this journey of learning, sharing, and collaboration, I urge each of you to engage actively. Let us challenge one another, share our experiences, and emerge from this retreat equipped with the tools and insights necessary to elevate our legislative practices.

In his speech at the retreat, Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu noted that the Southwest Assembly Speakers have set an enviable pattern of expected political ties and synergies for the development of their region through the instrumentality of quality legislation.

Kalu highlighted the global complexities of the 21st-century economy as one requiring productive legislative synergies at the state and national levels, saying viable regional ties would positively impact the polity.

The House of Representatives Deputy  Speaker added that the future of the country could only be better and positively impactful if all stakeholders strike a deal to work together regardless of political differences.

The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Habibat Adubiaro, eulogised the Aribasoye’s leadership for spearheading such an expanded discourse that will turn around executive-legislative relationships in the country.

Oyebanji opined that such a landmark convention has the capacity to strengthen Nigerian democratic culture and make it a beacon in Africa if sustained and promoted to a higher pedestal.

In their scholastic presentations, the former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and other experts at the forum took turns to share their thoughts on the kernel of regional synergy to national development and peacebuilding.

They said regional camaraderie among legislators should be one that will promote national unity, and not sharing of primordial sentiments that can exacerbate the existing crises and cleavages.

The communique issued, and signed by the Chairman of Southwest Conference of Speakers was explicit. It adumbrated 11- cardinal areas of focus they intended to explore to gain more relevance in the scheme of things.

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In fact,  they sounded receptive to broadening the horizons of partnerships to tackle their challenges. On the front burner was the issue of autonomy. They restated calls for full autonomy of the legislative arm to engender better proficiency and make it a true hub of development through a quality lawmaking process.

In actual fact, this has been an age-long advocacy Nigerians believed would help boost their powers to exert checks and balances on the executive arm that is assuming a monstrous status too powerful to bridle. Under this context, they recognised the need to remove the snags, by lobbying the governors of their respective states for the actualisation of the dream.

The parliamentarians were also upbeat that the adoption of the e-Parliament System as obtainable in other advanced climes will shore up the proficiency of the Legislature. They advocated for a strong legislature that would be completely independent to discharge its duties without inhibition, as a way of deepening democratic order.

According to them; “We recognise the necessity of engaging the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to advocate for the legislative autonomy of our State Houses of Assembly. That legislative autonomy is crucial to the ability of the legislature to enhance democratic governance in our states.

“We resolve to implement e-parliament systems and processes in our various legislatures to improve communication regarding legislative activities, fostering transparency and accountability.”

The lawmakers recommitted themselves to giving priority to the ongoing constitutional amendments as well as ensuring that new constitutional provisions promote rapid development and good governance.

They added that they were fully and unwaveringly committed to reviewing the recently amended constitutional provisions to ensure their seamless and effective domestication as well as its application in their respective states.

The parliamentarians further amplified the imperative of allowing the people to continue to be the fortress of democracy by deepening the “rule by the people” concept, saying for this to be actualised, their representatives must be accorded respect and be fully consulted in the governance process.

They said: “Legislature can serve as a demonstration of pluralism, tolerance of diversity and dissent, as well as a place for compromise and consensus building. We commit to updating our fund management laws in accordance with the 5th Alteration of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended to ensure fiscal responsibility and transparency.

Southwest speakers, principal officers strategise for improved lawmaking