Why NASS can’t carry out effective oversight- Lawmaker


A member of House of Representatives, Professor Mojeed Alabi, has opined that the corruption in oversight function at the national assembly is as a result of rotten system which may be difficult to correct.


The member representing Ede federal constituency stated this in Osogbo, Osun state capital, during a two-day seminar organised for elected federal and state legislators from the state by igbimo agba (APC elders).


The theme of the seminar is, “the Role of Political Parties in the Sustenance of Democracy.


The legislator stressed that the system would continue to be rotten in as much as the agencies that are supppsed to defend their budget are the one buying food and drinks for legislators.


Reacting to question on why legislators engages in duel at the floor of the house, Alabi attributed it to the rotten system, saying “the bad people elected bad legislators to go and do bad things, and the system will remain until good people elect good legislators.


He advised the newly elected legislators to master their grammar and be a master of the constitution, standing order and rules.


The Chairman, Igbimo Agba of the All Progressives Congress, Engr. Sola Akinwumi, said that party supremacy is basic to democratic governance and a candidate is elected because the electorate considers that the party’s programmes are the most preferred.


He said, “Every member is subject to the party, no matter how rich or educated a party member or an elected official is, he or she is under the control of the party.”


While stressing on the need for party members to the be disciplined, he noted that party discipline is one of the necessary conditions for an effective and responsible party administration.


“The series of crisis plaguing the APC in many states today are result of indiscipline among the leaders and members of the party.


Also, the state chairman of the party, Prince Gboyega Famodun, advised the legislators to be at peace with their erstwhile intra-political foes in the interest of sound stability of the party at various levels.


He also called for a periodic briefing of activities which according to him goes a long way to show how accountable they are.


In his address, the state governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, emphasized the need for party decisions to flow from bottom up so that members can identify with decisions taken and enjoyed a sense of belonging.


The governor who was represented by his deputy, Benedict Alabi thanked the present and previous leaderships of the party, the legislature and the executive for their good examples which have delivered peace and sustainable development to the state.


“The character of a party determines the worth of its elected members and consequently, the value of their services to the people.


“The party must regularly engage in intellectual and functional discourse to provide well thought out and people-oriented policies, direction and guidance.”


He charged the legislators-elect and party members to resolve yo implement the outcomes of this seminar so that the collective mandate of the party can be proudly delivered.

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