Effective Legislative oversight key to good governance in Nigeria – Bauchi Speaker
Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly Abubakar Y. Suleiman says that quality legislative oversight by Legislatures is the panacea for good governance in Nigeria.
He made the remarks while delivering opening remarks during the National Conference on Enhancing Effective Legislative Oversight, Monitoring and Evaluation for Principal Officers, Members, Clerks and Management Staff of State House of Assembly which took place at Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Badagry, Lagos, today.
The Speaker states that the essence of oversight is to ensure that that the governed are provided good living condition and environment, ensure compliance with the policy content, as such, the legislature follows up during implementation of the policies and measures approved or promulgated by the body in order to ensure good quality of life of all its citizenry.
According to him, the major problem of Nigeria is lack of good governance which manifests in how leadership is driven by self-interest, favouritism, corruption and other selfservice practices despite the fact that Nigeria is blessed with all that it takes to develop like any other developed country of the world.
He therefore advocates that, the best way to ensure good governance, which is the panacea to development problems or difficulties is through quality oversight by Legislatures which will ensure good governance, saying this can only be achieved if legislators and staff work together to effectively carryout the this constitutional responsibility.
While commending ASCON for organizing the Conference which he said is both strategic and timely, the Speaker call on all participants to use this opportunity to learn from the presentations that will be made during the Conference in order to enhance effective oversight, monitoring and evaluation which are key to good governance.
In her remarks, the Director General of Admistative Staff College of Nigeria Mrs Cecilia Umaru Gayya commends Bauchi State House of Assembly for participating in the Conference which she describes as crucial one.
According to her, Bauchi State has always been at forefront in building the capacity of its officials in the College, thus urges the participants to make good use of the opportunity.
