The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu has stated that, the National Assembly must ensure that all its legislative interventions are tailored towards meeting the needs of Nigerians.
According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu made the assertion while speaking in a goodwill message titled “Planning with Facts and Evidence” at the 2-Day retreat for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly comprising the Senate and the House of Representatives in Ikot-Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State on Friday.
Kalu stated that, it was incumbent on the parliament to discern the needs of the people and address them.
He said, “It is our responsibility to discern the nation’s most immediate needs and address them accordingly. This data-driven approach not only reflects the principles of good governance but also ensures that our legislative actions are tailored to the evolving needs of our people”.
Kalu said, the role of the legislators extends far beyond the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly, stressing that it encompasses the welfare and aspirations of every Nigerian citizen.
The Deputy Speaker further stated that in the relentless pursuit of a more perfect Nigerian union, the parliament must elevate the importance of data in its decision-making processes.
He added that it must align with the principles of participatory democracy, which champion public engagement in all legislative endeavors.
Kalu further noted that the needs and aspirations of the people must be incorporated when sculpting the national budgets by the parliament rather than leaving such a critical task to the discretion of the heads of MDAs who may not always prioritize the greater good due to ignorance of facts and data from the people.
According to him, the retreat serves as the bedrock for harvesting needs analysis results directly from the voices and experiences of the people, acknowledging that the raw materials for legislative works should emanate from the unbiased, data-driven input of the people we represent.
