Olukoyede Urges Lawmakers to Prioritize Accountability and Good Governance

ABUJA — The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has challenged Nigerian legislators to champion accountability and good governance as a core part of their mandate. Speaking through the Director of Public Affairs, Commander of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, at a policy dialogue in Abuja, Olukoyede emphasized that while he applauded the organizers, a critical element was missing from the discourse: the accountability of the lawmakers themselves.

The event, titled “Legislative Governance Accountability and Productivity Index,” was organized by the Erudite Growth and Advancement Foundation (ERGAF-Africa) in collaboration with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC). The highlight of the event was the public unveiling of the 10th National Assembly’s Deliberative Barometer and Policy Focus Productivity Report, a digital tool designed to track and evaluate the performance of lawmakers.

A New Barometer for Legislative Performance
The newly launched barometer is a significant step toward improving transparency in the legislative process. The report, which covers the first year of the 10th Assembly (June 14, 2023, to June 13, 2024), reveals compelling data about the productivity of Nigerian lawmakers. According to the report, 48 members of the House of Representatives and five senators made no contributions during plenary sessions. Furthermore, the report found that a significant portion of the bills introduced were recycled from previous assemblies, indicating a slow progression of legislative work.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honorable Abbas Tajudeen, represented by Honorable Cyril Godwin Hart, acknowledged the importance of the new tool. He stated that the barometer aligns with the vision of the 10th Assembly to promote evidence-based lawmaking that will strengthen the democratic culture and provide a reference point for evaluating legislative contributions to national development.

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The Role of Data and Citizen Engagement
Professor Abubakar Suleiman, Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, praised the initiative for providing the accurate data needed to assess the activities of the 10th Assembly. He noted that in today’s world, accurate data and artificial intelligence are essential for driving decisions and enhancing transparency and accountability in governance.

Similarly, Honorable Bamidele Salam, in his goodwill message, underscored that citizens are most interested in the “dividends of democracy” and the tangible results of the mandate they have given their representatives. He called on the government to support the initiative to ensure its sustainability.

The call for greater legislative accountability comes at a time when civil society organizations are increasingly leveraging data and technology to empower citizens. By providing a clear and accessible scorecard of their representatives, tools like the Deliberative Barometer can help bridge the gap between promises made during campaigns and the reality of legislative performance, ultimately fostering a more informed and engaged citizenry.