President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, has called for active involvement of citizens in the process of governance. He said doing so would substantially deepen Nigeria’s democracy as well as ensure transparency and accountability on the part of lawmakers elected to deliver on effective representation to the people.

Lawan made the call when a delegation from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, United Kingdom, and local officials of Inter-Parliamentary Union paid an official visit to the Senate President at the National Assembly, Abuja. The mission was primarily to announce the inauguration of the Young Parliamentary Forum (YPF) which has been scheduled for Tuesday at the National Assembly. Members of the forum comprise legislators at both the National Assembly and the state assemblies who are 45 years and below.

Lawan recalled that the passage of the Not-too-Young-to-run Act by the 8th National Assembly was a conscious effort to widen the political space for young politicians to be part of governance. He, therefore, urged the YPF to embrace opportunities to make sure that Nigerians have representation within the age bracket as provided in the Act after elections every four years. Speaking on attaining inclusion in governance, Lawan said, “while we emphasise on those elected, I think democracy can only be deepened if there is participation from those who are not in office.

“Those of us who have been elected of course represent people, but we can do little really, if there is no participation in the governance process by those who elected us. “Hardly ever are we understood on what our roles are by those who elected us. They think we are sometimes supposed to behave like the executive arm of government. “There is need for those who are not elected to also be properly on board, while those of us elected should be checked just as we check the executive arm of government. “People should be interested in what we do.

Those who elected us should continuously give advice and ask questions; and where there are questions, we should be able to provide explanations. This is very important. “I will continue to advocate that we bring political education down to the primary school level. We shouldn’t be looking only at those already in office. What will make our democracy work for us is citizen participation,” the Senate president said.

Earlier, the representative of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, Lucy Armstrong, lauded the National Assembly for its support to ensure that the Youth Parliamentarians Forum succeeds in the delivery of its mandate. The Secretary, Inter-Parliament Relations and Protocol of the YPF, Joseph Oru, said the group, besides working with parliaments across 30 countries around the world to strengthen democracy and political parties, seeks the inclusion of youths, women and persons with disabilities in the process of governance.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/those-who-elected-us-dont-know-our-roles-lawan.html

We do need to look at the size of government in Nigeria and I am an advocate of a unicameral legislature. What we need is the House of Representatives, because that is what represents. We Don't need the senate for anything.

This Senate must be the most docile one since the history of Nigeria. They are even begging people to be interested in what they do

where is the oversight fuction... oh i don't know their work it the exective fuction.

Rubbish. The only time I ever saw these guys truly busy doing anything to the benefit of Nigerians but not themselves was when Ken Nnamani held sway.

That man will forever have my respect.

Am I the only guy who thinks this men are overpaid? FG should cut there cost and raise money from there!



Not all this unnecessary taxation!

on another episode of the rubber stamp senate


the only function you have right now that we are aware of is stamping anything the presidency pushes to your table.

Nawa for this politicians sef...

Especially the zombies. They have no clue what governance is about.

Then tell us what your roles are. To buy luxury n increase ur salaries? While the electorates suffers in anguish?

I have nothing to say, but Nigeria is in a state of abject pelenigration, political fantasmagoya and social stupor.

You bunch don't know your roles either

There is no way you can compare this Dundee with Lord Saraki.. Man is the goat

Fab

VirginSearcher:
Vc

U get mind oo. No be VC na SP

Noted

Next!!!

Democracy cannot work in nigeria

isnt is possible to rule with only
governor then commissioners with appointed delegate

senate seem to b waste of space

Criticaltemp:

U get mind oo. No be VC na SP

This one's SP means senior prefect

There is need for those who are not elected to also be properly on board, while those of us elected should be checked just as we check the executive arm of government. “People should be interested in what we do. 

This is very good coming from Lawan.
Nigerians must ask the politicians they elected questions.

We know critics who are genuinely concerned about a better Nigeria,
You will know them because when they see good efforts of government they applaud.

But the others, the one who swore on their lives Buhari will never be president, the enemies of the nation, that have nothing going on for them in life can continue to wail for the next 4 years without holding their state governors and representatives accountable for their actions, they can continue to wail, PMB why as we see here on a weekly basis?

Nigeria will be great again.

Rubbish!!! Mr. Lawani pleasure get to work already.

Kleptomaniacs.
The Senate should be scraped. Because your only role is stealing.

Make us no and ur salarys too

Ok

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For the Senate President information, from our active involvement we discovered that the monthly take home of the a Senator's allowance is enough to pay two Local Govt. Council salaries for one month. He should start from there.

If Citizens participate in the bugdet circle, it will go along way to promote transparency and accountability in governance. And lastly it will strengthen our democratic system of government.

coming from someone who has no idea of what to do.....

Indi Ara

This loyalist is on it again

Hdk