Understanding legislative rudiments: Should we not hold our legislators accountable?

POINTBLANK With Smart Emmanuel
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In every functional democracy, the legislative arm of government is not just another political structure but the lifeline of participatory governance.

It is the bridge between the people and the state, the channel through which the yearnings and aspirations of the masses are transmitted, debated, and converted into actionable laws and policies.

If the legislative arm fails to understand its responsibilities or perform them diligently, the masses remain voiceless and unprotected, regardless of the promises of democracy.

The three core responsibilities of the legislature, representation, lawmaking, and oversight, are sacred assignments. Representation means that legislators are the voices of their constituencies, speaking, defending, and advocating for the interests of their people in the chambers of power. Lawmaking entails shaping the laws that govern society, ensuring these laws address the needs of the people and reflect their collective interests.

Oversight involves monitoring the executive arm of government, ensuring it implements policies and utilizes public resources transparently, efficiently, and in alignment with the law.

Yet, in our nation today, many legislators have sadly become rubber stamps, offering blind loyalty to the executive while abandoning the very people who entrusted them with the mandate to serve.

Instead of acting as watchdogs, many have become praise singers, prioritizing their ambitions over the well-being of their constituents. Some have gone into the chambers of power seeking immunity from prosecution for past misdeeds, while others see legislative offices merely as avenues for personal enrichment, building wealth while their people languish in poverty, insecurity, and neglect.

This issue must be confronted. It is time we rise to hold our legislators accountable at all levels, local government, state assemblies, and the national assembly. We must remember that we sent them to represent us, not to represent themselves or their political godfathers.

We sent them to serve as checks and balances on the executive, not to form alliances that compromise the public interest for personal benefits.

The executive arm of government cannot take significant decisions or implement meaningful policies without legislative approval.

The budget, which drives the activities of the executive, must pass through legislative scrutiny and approval before it becomes actionable. Therefore, when roads remain impassable, hospitals decay, schools collapse, and unemployment worsens, we must look beyond the executive and question the role of the legislature.

Did they scrutinize the budget thoroughly? Did they ask the right questions? Did they ensure projects in their constituencies were executed as approved? If they failed in these responsibilities, they failed the people.

It is time we channel our frustrations, anger and demands to the appropriate quarters, our legislators. They should not hide behind the noise of politics while neglecting their duties. They should carry the grievances of the people to the executive while communicating feedback to the people honestly.

When the people cry out over insecurity, hunger, or unemployment, legislators must address these issues vigorously and ensure they are addressed, not dismissed with political speeches and hollow promises.

Legislators must understand that their primary role is to serve as middlemen between the people and the state, not as political merchants. The titles they carry, honourable members, senators, speakers, should reflect honour earned through quality representation, not hollow titles that mock the people’s suffering.

If they fail to step up and perform their duties effectively, they should step aside for those who understand the job better, who are ready to represent the people with integrity, courage, and commitment.

To build a nation that works, accountability must be enforced across all arms of government, and the legislature cannot be exempt. We must demand periodic constituency engagements where legislators give reports of their activities, the bills they have sponsored, the motions they have moved, and the projects they have facilitated.

We must demand transparency in constituency project allocations and monitor their execution to ensure they are not converted into personal gains or abandoned after funds are released.

In conclusion, the legislative arm of government holds the key to the growth of our democracy and the development of our nation. They are the sentinels of our democracy, and if they fail to understand or perform their duties, the entire system is weakened.

It is time to rise and hold them accountable, for in their accountability lies the hope of building a society where the people are genuinely represented, and their interests are protected above personal or political interests.

Yagazie!