Former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Samson Osagie, has advised the National Assembly to as a matter necessity make the issue of constitutional amendment, economic empowerment and diversification and infrastructure development priorities as Nigerians are anxious in seeing positive change in the socio-economic development of the nation.
Osagie, who recently emerged chairman of the African Bar Association and executive director, Centre for Advanced & Dynamic Leadership for Development, gave the advice in a speech delivered while setting agenda for 10th National Assembly on the occasion of the National Political Science Association (NPSA) meeting held in Abuja.
The former federal lawmaker’s speech also raised the need for the assembly to right the negative perception by a session of the Nigerian public about the role of the legislature in democratic governance.
He said other key areas of national development the 10th assembly must focus on include education and human capital development, health care for all, transparent governance and accountability, security and safety of all persons and property, fix the nation’s refinery and security.
He said; “Since the dawn of the 4th Republic Nigerians have misunderstood the role of the legislature in democratic governance. While some have called for the outright scrapping of the arm of government, others have argued that their role does not deserve to be on a full-time basis.
“The implications of the varied perception of the Nigerian legislature is that its relevance to the well-being of the citizens is doubtful. As the 10th National Assembly settles down to yet another four years of legislative duties it has a responsibility to endeavour to change some of the negative narratives about itself.
“Arguably, these thematic areas of focus by the lower house capture the very core of the nation’s challenging social, economic and political landscape and one would expect all arms and agencies of government to have undiluted commitment to resolving the myriad of problems around these issues.
“It is no longer in doubt that the 1999 Constitutional, though amended five times, is yet to meet the yearnings of the people and provide the standard threshold for development. The National Assembly must continue to evolve means to review the provisions of the constitution that seeks to concentrate power and resources at the center.”
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