Make Laws According To The Needs Of The People....Deputy Speaker Tells Colleagues

By Benard Akoma

The deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu has called on his colleagues in the green chamber to be conscious of the impacts of the laws they make on the people. He advocates that House legislative interventions are tailored towards meeting the needs of Nigerians through good governance.

Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, in a release stated that Kalu made the charge while delivering his goodwill message titled "Planning with Facts and Evidence" at the 2-Day retreat for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly comprising the Senate and the House of Representatives on Friday, September,22,2023, at Ikot-Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.

The deputy speaker maintained that in law-making, "It is our responsibility to discern the nation's most immediate needs and address them accordingly. "According to him, "this data-driven approach not only reflects the principles of good governance but also ensures that our legislative actions are tailored to the evolving needs of our people."

Kalu also said that the role of the legislators extends far beyond the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly, stressing that it encompasses the welfare and aspirations of every Nigerian citizen.

Kalu also said that the needs and aspirations of the people must be incorporated when sculpting the national budgets by the parliament rather than leaving such a critical task to the discretion of the heads of MDAs who may not always prioritize the greater good due to ignorance of facts and data from the people.

The deputy speaker reiterates that the retreat serves as the bedrock for harvesting needs analysis results directly from the voices and experiences of the people, acknowledging that the raw materials for legislative works should emanate from the unbiased, data-driven input of the people we represent.

"The facts and data we collect through rigorous needs assessment should not merely serve as statistics; they should be the guiding light that illuminates the path to more effective legislative procedures and products. After all, we craft laws for the people, and it is only equitable that the people actively shape the society they envision,” Kalu emphasised.

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