USA Africa Dialogue Series - PRESS RELEASE: 2014: CISLAC TASKS NASS ON EFFECTIVE LEGISLATIVE PERFORMANCE

PRESS RELEASE

2014: CISLAC TASKS NASS ON EFFECTIVE LEGISLATIVE PERFORMANCE

As members of the National Assembly resume for the year 2014 legislative activities, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) observes that:

1. The year 2013 witnessed the continuation of various forms of social upheavals in Nigeria occasioned by insurgencies, high level corruption, kidnapping, oil theft and other criminal vices as well as a near standstill in the educational sector.

2. The trend of political unrests and impunity became more glaring as the nation marches towards another era of electioneering and elections in 2015

3. The level of poverty of ordinary Nigerian has not shown any remarkable improvement   even as the rate of unemployment continues to be high. Further to this is the poor performance of the budget resulting in delayed passage of the appropriation, infrastructural deficit, high level of wasteful government spending, duplication and the inability of the national budget to meet with international standards on social sectors such as health, education and agriculture.

4. The perpetrators of the political and socio-economic unrests associated with Year 2013 are yet to be held accountable. 

5. The probes carried out by panels set up by both Chambers of the National Assembly recorded relative successes and were not marred by corruption scandals as in the preceding years.

6. The cost of governance in the country remained shrouded in secrecy and not opens to public scrutiny as is expected in democratic societies.

AS PART OF THE NEW YEAR AGENDA, CISLAC URGES THE NASS TO:

1. Remained objective and concentrate on issues that will benefit the generality of Nigerians.

2. Ensure drastic efforts are made to minimize the present high cost of governance in the country through total reduction in wastages in the 2014 appropriation.

3. Carry out constructive review of its legislative agenda.

4. Ensure that the 2014 Appropriation Bill is passed speedily and reflects Nigeria's commitment to international agreement to key sectors such as health, education and agriculture.

5. Fast-track the passage of people oriented Petroleum Industrial Bill (PIB) as against the invested interest of industries; comprehensive National Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB) in accordance with Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC); and other pending Bills before the National Assembly.

6. Adopt and emulate proper codes of conduct of patriotic legislators through democratic process that allows for public participation.

7. Never relent in its spirited efforts to achieve meaningful democracy in the country.

8. Avoid being intimidated or blackmailed in the discharge of their constitutional mandates through effective legislative oversights.

Signed

Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani)

Executive Director, CISLAC