24th November, 2010
Chairman of the Social Democratic Mega Party, SDMP, Professor Pat Utomi has called on the various legislative bodies in the nation, especially the legislators at the centre to concentrate on the needs of the people they are representing when they are making laws “for the welfare and good governance of the nation.”
He said this while speaking with journalists at the Surulere secretariat of the party on Monday.
Utomi decried the fact that the lawmakers, in spite of their being full-time legislators are still not pulling their weight in spite of the high remuneration and investment the nation is expending on them. “Of note among the pending legislations,” Utomi noted, “is the Freedom of Information Bill.” He pointed out that contrary to the general impression, the said bill is not solely for the use of journalists, but the generality of the people.
While reiterating his call for part-time legislative system as practised by many states in the USA, Utomi regretted that the legislators are disconnected from the everyday reality of their people.
“The number one reason why some of us are advocating for a working, part-time legislature is that these legislators would be ordinary people; doctors, engineers, bankers, lawyers, business-people, professionals who would mix with everyday people, experience their pains, feel their pulse and know first-hand what is bothering them and how best to see to their yearnings. When they would meet to make laws, this first-hand knowledge would reflect in their legislations and the people would ultimately benefit.”
He pointed out examples of how legislations thus crafted have transformed the lives of people in other democracies, and regretted a situation whereby the legislators are so removed from the pains of the people.
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