Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
A university don, Prof. Mashood Omotosho, has identified corruption and lobbying by political mafias as major obstacles to effective lawmaking by the legislature in the country.
Omotosho, who is a professor of International Relations at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, equally listed political gridlock and influence of special interest groups as challenges militating against effective legislation, at both the national level and the state Houses of Assembly.
He stated this while delivering his lecture at a media symposium organised by the Forum for Governance Leadership and Value (FGLV) in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.
The symposium with the theme: “Enhancing The Value Of The Legislature In Nigeria’s Democratic Process”, also saw the senator representing Ogun West senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola getting decorated as as Legislative Icon in Nigeria
The don who noted that the legislative arm of government has critical roles to play in ensuring the delivery of good governance, however, urged the legislators not to compromise their constitutional roles in stabilizing democratic governance through law-making and promoting good governance, amongst others, despite the challenges.
He also cautioned that executive-legislative conflicts can strain relationships between the two arms of government, hindering effective governance in the process.
“The legislature’s ability to make effective laws can be affected by factors like political gridlock, corruption, and the influence of special interest groups, i.e., lobbying by powerful political mafia in the state, major power brokers, and political cabals.
“The relationship between the executive and legislature can be strained, leading to conflicts that hinder effective governance due to differing priorities and power struggles”, he stated.
The Federal Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, Ogun state, Morakinyo Akinleye, who represented Senator Adeola at the event, declared that “the senator is one of the senators whose integrity has not been influenced by corrupt politicians, hence his achievement in Ogun West”.
“The legislators are representatives of people at the grassroot, Senator Solomon Adeola should be commended for combining his legislative responsibility with facilitation of projects capable of enhancing the socioeconomic development of his senatorial district,”, Akinleye said.
The convener of the symposium, Bolaji Adeniji, said disclosed that the purpose of the symposium was to have a conversation on how the legislature can add value to the society, calling for support for legislators for effective representation.
“We are here today to have a conversation on how the legislature can add value to society. There has been a lot of backlash against the legislature as being in cahoots with the executive but we know that the legislatures are doing well and their roles cannot be underestimated.
“What we need to do is to support them to do the right thing for the people. We are happy that somebody like Senator Olamilekan Adeola, a key pillar of the National Assembly, is being honoured here today. Not just for his contributions at the floor of the National Assembly, but also to the people he is representing”, Adeniji submitted.