25th September, 2024
The Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, has called for continuous legislative reforms to enhance and sustain effective governance across the country.
Speaking on Tuesday at the closeout and dissemination event of the Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) programme in Abuja, Ogundoyin underscored the significant impact of the initiative, which has fostered collaboration, accountability, and transparency in governance over its eight-year span.
“The PERL programme has achieved remarkable milestones,” he said.
“It has strengthened the capacity of State Houses of Assembly, supported key legislation, enhanced public participation, and promoted transparency and accountability,” he added.
Ogundoyin emphasised that Nigeria, building on PERL’s successes, is well-positioned to make significant advancements in governance reforms, particularly by sustaining and scaling up the programme’s achievements.
Focusing on key areas of reform, he stressed that autonomy is essential to promoting federalism and ensuring a truly representative democracy.
“When State Houses of Assembly are autonomous, they can more effectively perform oversight functions, accurately represent their constituents, and facilitate power devolution to grassroots levels,” he said.
He further highlighted that additional legislative reforms are vital for reinforcing democratic institutions, tackling emerging challenges, and enhancing transparency and accountability.
Calling for full financial autonomy for all State Assemblies, Ogundoyin noted that many nations have successfully implemented such autonomy for their sub-national legislatures.
The Chairman assured that negotiations and consultations will continue to encourage more states to comply with the constitutional provision for financial autonomy of State Legislatures in Nigeria.
He also expressed his appreciation to the PERL team for their dedication and expertise in driving governance reforms in the country.