PARLIAMENTARY DAY: INTEREST PERSONS TASK LEGISLATORS ON QUALITY REPRESENTATION
REPORTER: SCHOLAR ABAGA
As Nigeria joins its counterparts globally to celebrate Parliamentary Day, some interest persons in Anambra State have urged lawmakers to prioritize the needs of their constituents to make democracy work in the interest of the people.
They say their call is because the legislative arm of government is the bridge between the government and the people.
The respondents also can on the Federal Government of Nigeria to grant full autonomy to the parliament for efficient service delivery.
Speaking on the importance of the day, a former Majority Leader in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Dr. Pete lbida, described the parliament as most important arm of government, especially in a democracy.
The former lawmaker, however, hinted that democracy in Nigeria and Africa in general was being subjugated by the executive powers, which had denied the legislative arm the full autonomy it needed for efficiency.
Dr. Ibida called for necessary restructuring of the legislative and judicial arms to enhance their functions and efficiency.
For his part, the member representing Ogbaru Constituency One in the state Assembly, Mr. Noble Igwe, emphasized that the parliament had helped in enacting laws that promote alternative dispute resolution where aggrieved persons came together and settled their cases instead of going to court.
Mr. Igwe encouraged people to send their petitions to the parliament through the public petitions committee for amicable resolution.
In an interview, a Public Servant, Mr. Evaristus Onwukwe, while describing the Parliament as a mediator between the government and the governed, advised members of the parliamentary arm of government to prioritize the needs of their constituents to guarantee quality representation.
The International Day of Parliament is celebrated on June 30 annually to celebrate the fundamental principles of parliamentarism and its role in supporting the rule of law.
The day is also celebrated for parliaments and the ways in which parliamentary systems of government improve the well-being of people the world over.
The theme for this year’s Parliamentary Day is “Tough challenges, Tougher Choices.”
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
