—Legislative experience, Policy expertise, personal background; this is it.
Nigerians will be flocking to the poll on Saturday 25th February 2023 to elect their President and members of the National Assembly (the Legislators).
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The atmosphere has been bubbling with so much ‘noise’ since 28th September, 2022, the campaign kickoff day.
Party candidates have since started cajoling, enticing and manipulating the voting populace, with rhetoric, nuances, fake promises and clannishness.
And, Nigerians are determined more than ever, TO DECIDE the Elections.
The making of laws in the country is the sole responsibility of the Legislators, and just as everywhere in the world, Nigerian legislators play prominent role in democracy and governance.
In the last edition, we itemized the Washington Post of January 6, 2015 the 5 highly effective Legislator’s Habits. According to the publication, every successful legislator develops a legislative agenda rooted in personal background, previous experiences and policy expertise.
Every Legislator has a background; family, education, career, social, political & Philanthropy, ethnic, religious, etc. This background influences legislative agendas of a legislator.
Also, the legislative experiences and policy expertise is key to effectiveness.
A case for study is a legislator who has maintained this habit(s) in the Nigerian Legislative Circle.
Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa is an effective Legislator. Mao has a great personal background which cannot be contested; from education to career/business to family.
In 1999, He became the first representative of Arochukwu/Ohafia constituency in the national Assembly, subsequently elected the Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives. With his background, experience and policy expertise, he was elected into the ECOWAS Parliament as Speaker. And in 2015, he was elected a Senator for the Abia North Senatorial District representing the five Local government Areas; Arochukwu, Bende, Isuikwuato, Ohafia and Umu – Nneochi in Abia State Southeast Nigeria.
In the Nigerian Eighth Senate of 109 members, 500 bills were sponsored between 2015 and 2019, and Senator Mao Ohuabunwa has 14 bills to his name, and the 75 bills signed in to law by the president, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa has three to his name.
The 14 Bills are:
*National center for Disease Control (NCDC)(SB.10)signed in to law.
*Nigerian institute of transport Technology act (SB.11)
* National Agricultural Land Authority Act, Amendment bill (SB.12)
*Nigerian institute of management Act 14 2003 (Amendment) (SB.13)(SB.18)
*Presidential Transition bill 2015 (SB.19)
*Commercial Agriculture credit scheme (SB.20) signed in to law.
* National council for research and Development bill 2015(SB.124)
*Nigerian security and civil defence act No 6(amendment) bill 2015 (SB.132)
*Federal entrepreneurship centers establishments (SB.133)
*Medical and dental practitioners act (amendment) 2015(SB.136)
*Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria (third Alteration) act 2016.
*An act to amend the code of conduct Bureau Tribunal act Cap C15, LFN.
* Federal college of education (Technical), Arochukwu (Eat,etc)bill 2017 (SB.515) third reading and public hearing done.
* Federal Polytechnic, Item, Abia state (Est, etc) bill, 2018 third reading and public hearing done.
That is Legislative effectiveness.
And so, as Abia North Constituents go to the Poll to elect their next Senator in 2023 elections, it’s important they understand what they want, who and how to get it.
Legislature and Representation is for the best minds, it requires experience and expertise on policy formulation and promotion, it’s never a job for the clowns and unstable.
So far, Mao Ohuabunwa stands the BEST.
In the next edition, a look on habit of developing Legislative Agenda that meets the Constituents needs.
Anietie Udobit writes from Abuja.