The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives members-elect have said the leadership of the 10th National Assembly will be determined by competence, efficiency and suitability and not zoning.
They also cautioned all political parties to be sensitive to the needs of the nation and ensure that the next National Assembly does not become a lame duck in the hands of the executive arm of government.
Rising from a strategic meeting of the Northern Caucus of the PDP Members-elect at the weekend, the newly elected federal legislators observed that the legislature is the engine room of democracy.
They added that the quality of its input will drive the process of policy initiation and execution, which only capable and experienced legislative leadership can guarantee.
In a communique signed by seven members, two from North Central, North East and North West under the leadership of Hon Dr Ali JC Isa, (Balanga/ Billiri Federal Constituency of Gombe State) a copy made available to LEADERSHIP in Jos, the members-elect said with all eyes on the legislature, it will be unfair to compromise efficiency and competence on the altar of zoning just for political reasons.
They all agreed to work together to ensure that competent persons are elected or appointed to occupy the leadership positions of the lower chamber of the apex legislature.
According to them, “It is the quality of the legislature that provides effective oversight for good legislation and effective implementation of government policies.
“We are therfore poised to make an additional difference to what is on ground to ensure smooth progress from where the 9th National assembly will stop and return Nigeria to proper socio- economic footing and development. “
They further stressed “A sound and effective legislative leadership is what is needed in a democracy to sustain or midwife positive change and therefore we cannot be talking about the traditional issues of zoning which has often times retarded groth and development of democratic ideas because of week and imposed legislative leaderships”.
They urged themselves to keep the vision and work towards recruiting vibrant leadership when the national assembly is inaugurated.
Former deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senator Usman Bayero Nafada who chaired the event congratulated the Members- Elect and informed them that the secret to legislative success amd performance is unity.
He charged them to familiarise themselves with one another as they prepare towards inauguration and ensure that the think together all the time for the progress of fhe nation.
The meeting was well attended by almost all the PDP Northern Caucus members who are in high spirits to make a difference in the 10th assembly and vowed that as an opposition with a huge number, they will work together in unity with other minority members from the Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA to ensure that eligibility, competence and merit takes precedence in the choice of the leadership ofnthe 10th assembly instead of the usual tradition of using zoning to impose leadership which creates legislative instability most of the time.
