News:
June 23, 2021
A member of the Nigerian delegation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Abiodun Olujimi has questioned who the elected MPs would report to in his or her home country should the direct adult suffrage be implemented?
According to her the crusade for direct election of MPs for the Community Parliament is not going to be an easy one, indicating that “if we do, those elected would they be under the presidency, or how do they get paid, do they have a parliament to report to?”
In an interview at the end of the 2021 First Ordinary Session, she further questioned how the elected Community MPs would carry out assignments given them, and pointed out that what the current MPs nominated by their national Assemblies do is a balancing act, serving their national Parliament and the Community Parliament.
Again, in Nigeria we are a growing nation, how do we have elections and share 35 among 37 states that is also a problem we need to look at it very well, for member states that have five (5) to eight (8) representation it is easy, she stated.
On the issue of Nigerian lawmakers not attending the 2021 First Ordinary Session in their numbers looking at their numerical strength of thirty-five (35), she said “the reason why our people cannot attend is simple, if you are here you are burdened with several events, you have to go to your parliament and come here too, how do you do all the jobs assigned to you?”.
She further pointed out that, when they go to member states, lawmakers from member states where they attend delocalised or Extra Ordinary meetings, their lawmakers are unable to attend meetings and concentrate.
She was however, quick to point out that Nigerian lawmakers to the Community Parliament do attend session later in the day, and same applies to member states.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com/Abuja