Lawyers set agenda for 7th National Assembly

Lagos – A cross-section of legal practitioners in Lagos have called on members of the incoming Seventh National Assembly to be true representatives of their people.

In separate interviews  on Saturday, they said the call was necessary as Nigerians look up to the lawmakers for succor in the desire to have better lives.

According to them, many of the lawmakers had not adequately represented their constituents and had tended to look after only their personal interests.

Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said majority of the lawmakers in the past had only represented their interests rather than those of their constituents.

“It is rather unfortunate the situation in the past where the legislature appropriated huge amount of money for itself.

“The members also obtained loans from banks to pay what I will call `obscene allowances’ for performing legislative duties, and hurriedly passed bills affecting their personal welfare.

“This was bad, and in this new dispensation, Nigerians want a change,’’ he said.

Also, a former General Secretary of the NBA, Deacon Dele Adesina, said members of the new Senate and House of Representatives must avoid the pitfalls and scandals of their predecessors.

“The lawmakers need to be focused on their constitutional duties of enacting laws and performing their oversight functions, especially in the area of budget implementation,’’ he said.

Public affairs analyst, Mr Onyekachi Ubani, on his part said the oversight functions must be carried out in such a way that it should be of benefit to Nigerians and not to the lawmakers’ private pockets.

“Nigerians have set an agenda for them to enact laws, and it would be pointless of them to demand for bribes before they pass any law.

“Individuals can initiate private bills, just as the House (legislature) initiates bills and we equally have executive bills. This is why there is no reason why anyone should pay anybody money before his bills are considered.” he said.

Ubani said Nigerians are expecting a National Assembly where there would be robust debates that would impact positively on development in the country and enrich the lives of Nigerians.(NAN)