The active participation in issues of development through enactment of people oriented legislations and quality representation by members-elect in the State Houses of Assembly in the South West will determine the socio-economic and political growth of the region for it to maintain her leading role in the country.
The Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Suraju Ishola Adekunbi gave the task in his address at the Orientation workshop for members-elect of the 9th legislature from Ogun, Lagos and Oyo State Houses of Assembly organised by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) of Germany in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Adekunbi explained that the newly elected members of State Houses of Assembly in the region were expected to equip themselves for the enormous task with the needed skills and capacity building programmes to meet the expectations of their respective constituents towards fulfilling the mandate given them at the just concluded elections.
“I congratulate all members-elect for their victory in the last keenly contested general election in our country. However, we should be reminded that this mandate given by your constituents to be their representative in government is a great honour and a call to serve. Further growth and development of the three States, the Southwest geopolitical region and indeed our dear country, in the next years, rests on your shoulder.
To whom much is given, much is expected. The expectations of your constituents in respect of the mandate given to you are so high and you cannot afford to disappoint their investment (their vote) on you. In effect, this workshop is aimed at preparing you for the task ahead, which is highly technical”, the Speaker remarked.
Appreciating the organiser for ensuring the growth of democracy with constant support to the legislative arm of government in the nation, he posited that the contributions of the organisation were fundamentals to the lofty strides recorded in the last fifteen years of democratic governance in the country.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Olagunju Ojo and his Lagos counterpart, Mudashiru Obasa represented by the Clerk, Mrs Foluke Oyediran and Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni respectively, lauded the organiser for their untiring interest in human capacity development of the legislative arm being the fulcrum of any healthy democratic system of government.
They expressed optimism that the workshop would equip members-elect with the required skills and ideas towards ensuring quality representation as a voice of the grassroot with a view to promoting good governance.
Earlier in his address, the resident representative of KAS, Dr. Vladimir Kreck said that the foundation had been advocating for national development through continuous contributions to the growth of State legislatures as a critical component of any democracy especially in developing nation. He charged the participants to work towards a common goal with other arms of government for the enactment of enabling legislations.
Papers presented at the session included: “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Separation of Powers”, by Dr Adetunji Ogunyemi from the Obafemi Awolowo University; “Legislative Functions, Process, Powers, Ethics and Privileges” by Ayuba Gongu from Office of the Head of Service, Plateau State.
Other papers are: “Parliamentary Protocol-Standing Order, Motions, Debates and Resolutions presented by Director, Legislative Drafting and Legal Services, Lagos State House of Assembly and Deputy Clerk, Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr Adedeji Adeyemo”, “Legislative Drafting, Process of Bills and the role of Committees in the Bill Process and Oversight by Barr. Gongu”, “Introduction to Budget Processes presented by Dr. Ogunyemi among others.
Packaged by Hazeez Ayansola
