Lawmakers at all levels of governance in Nigeria have been asked to retrospect in order to make the country’s interest the chief focus of their duties. The call was made by Prof. Shola Omotola while delivering a special lecture at the Federal University, Lokoja on Friday.
The foremost political scientist from Federal University, Oye Ekiti delivered the lecture organised for FUL PhD Course 1 Class at the end of their Academic Guided Tour.
In the lecture titled: “Legislative Influencing in Nigeria: Significance, Issues, Challenges and Selected Cases,” Omotola identified law making, oversight and representation as functions of the legislature, describing it as a strategic institution of governance.
The tour and lecture were part of the requirements of the Federal University Lokoja Postgraduate School and the Institute of Governance and Development Studies for the programme.
He said that the Legislature remained the only organ of government vested with the powers of Legislation, oversight and representation in every democratic process but its effectiveness in Nigeria had been encumbered by a lot of challenges.
He identified some of the challenges millitating against optimal and efficient performance of the Legislature to include conflicts of interests, overbearing and too strong Executive, vested with Veto power.
Omotola queried the form, character and procedure of elections into legislative houses at all levels saying that in most cases the Executive determine the contestants from the conduct of congresses and party primaries.
He said it was time the legislative institutions began to set agenda for policies formulation in the country through the impact of their legislations.
“Agenda setting is about what issues make it onto the policy agenda and which ones are neglected and policy formulation concerns the development of new or the revision of existing policies”, he said.
He urged the legislature as a body to look inwards and reflect on some of those things that have been hindering their effective performance, to proffer feasible solutions.
“Legislature is about representing your people, it is about making laws for national development, it is about putting your best into the work to hold government institutions and players accountable.
“My appeal to them is that they should make those three or four responsibilities their primary focus and of course, once they do that very well, other benefits will accrue to them.
“But first and foremost, they should see Nigeria first and push every other consideration to the background.
“What Nigerians are asking for is a redistribution of resources in such a way that every segment of the society can benefit.” He said.
Omotola decried the high premium placed on political offices and their holders, making the cost of governance high and struggle for elective and appointive offices a “do or die” thing.
“The thinking of some people out there is that that too high premium is placed on political offices and they are asking for effective performance with less emphasis on reward and money.”
Omotola advocated that Legislators should be assessed by the impact their laws have on society, emphasising that they should aim at bringing significant improvement in the life of the citizen.
Vice Chancellor Prof Olayemi Akinwumi, led other scholars from within and outside the institution, students and the media witnessed the lecture.
