As the Rivers State House of Assembly resumes plenary for the second stanza of the seventh Assembly, there are high expectations of a better legislative arm determined to provide direction that will strengthen democratic institutions for good governance.

Unarguably, the legislature remains the nucleus of a democratic system, but worst hit by years of military dictatorship in Nigeria. Therefore, lessons learnt over the period should encapsulate the thinking, and modus operandi of the lawmakers to give their constituents effective representation.

Nigerian leaders in various capacities must stop looking for scape goats for their failure to grapple with the multifurious problems confronting the nation but stand up to face these challenges squarely. While the lack of commitment to proffering solution to the nagging issues of insecurity, unemployment, endemic corruption etc, has hampered development.

According to Ronald Reagan, during his inaugural address as the 40th president of the United States of America, “Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem.” He went further to justify the imputation and the intendment by saying “we suffer from long years of sustained self infliction in our national history. For decades we have piled deficit upon deficit mortgaging our future and that of our children’s future for the temporary convenience of the present”.

The scenario described by the president of the world strongest democracy aparently puts the Nigerian situation in proper perspective; and was corroborated by the number one diplomat in October 2011, when the UN Secretary-General, Banki-Moon said “our world is one of terrible contradictions, plenty of food but one billion people go hungry. Lavish lifestyles for a few but poverty for too many others.

Huge advances in medicine while mothers die every day in child birth… billions spent on weapons to kill people instead of keeping them safe”.

In fact, let me add, one of the highest producers of oil but that imports petroleum products, a state with water everywhere but, none good enough for drinking,that enacts many good laws but not enough for implementation, our security agencies are winning awards in peacekeeping outside the shores of Nigeria, but cannot check the activities of Boko Haram that has sent many innocent lives to untimely death.

This hapless situation portend a pathetic and phenomenal damage to the psyche of the nation and demands concerted efforts to redress under the current dispensation.

In this wise, lawmakers must rise up to the occasion, initiate laws that touch the lives of the generality of the people and carry out over-sight functions to revitalise the gloomy picture of a near failed state. The vicious circle of squandermania, avarice and voracious inclinations must be purged if the country can dream of becoming one of the best 20 economies of the world by 2020.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has been a shining example in the comity of state legislative Houses that has played pivotal roles in the enactment of justifiable laws that have direct impact on the masses, especially in matters that fall within the purview of the concurrent and residual legislative lists as stipulated by the 1999 constitution of Nigeria.

The statute book enshrines the principle of separation of powers between the legislature, executive and the judiciary with the provision for a system of checks and balances to ensure that no arm of government becomes authoritarian.

The mandate of the electorate remains the authority that the lawmakers possess to be in the legislative chamber and in the same token, the mandate could be withdrawn through the recall process if the representative is found wanting.

However, the task before the seventh State Assembly as they commence the second session of the four year term was captured by the speaker, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, when he welcomed members from their one month recess having interacted adequately having with their constituents and now better equipped for robust debates at the floor of the Assembly.

Notwithstanding the number of bills passed at the first session, Rivers People expect a more proactive lawmakers ready to discharge their oversight functions particularly as it concerns the local government councils, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

To gain the confidence of the people, the legislators need to interface with their constituents and seek their views on issues before debating on the floor of the House especially on critical matters so as to truly speak the minds of the people they represent.

It has become a common practice that most lawmakers visit their traditional rulers, opinion leaders and attend public functions in the area only when elections are approaching. Many do not have constituency offices for constituents to access them. Worthy of notes is the apathy among those whose assignment maybe terminating at a given term as their antics are beginning to be too glaring for even the blind to see as they assume the famous “Sidon look” approach to issues no matter how important it may seem.

Undoubtedly, public hearings are veritable instrument in which members of the public contribute to the enactment of laws in a democratic setting, but such inputs would be lacking if the State House of Assembly re-enact the scenario of the first session of the 7th Assembly when public hearings were not given enough publicity and time for interested persons to articulate their views for presentation.

A typical example was the publication for a public hearing on Wednesday while the programme held on Thursday and by Monday, the bill was passed into law thereby giving the public little or no time to contribute to legislative process.

Another important aspect that the second session of the House should not overlook is the poor image of the Assembly in the press. The previous Assembly enjoyed fairly good publicity. Hardly do people watch the House proceedings on NTA Network News, despite Port Harcourt hosting a network Centre, AIT and Silverbird have equally not faired better.

While the State Media is effectively publicising the House activities, further step needs to be taken to ensure that one of the best Houses of Assembly in the country, in terms of structure, commitment to duty and unity of purpose does not take the back seat but continues to be recognised nationwide for its vibrancy of inputs to lawmaking.

The House Committee on Information must borrow a leaf from its counterparts at the National Assembly to brief newsmen regularly on issues. For instance, if the briefings done after the passage of the Public Office Holders’ Pension and Fringe benefits law took place in the course of the  process, the public would have appreciated the essence of the law much better.

As the new legislative session begins, the Speaker of the House, is expected to be more firm in communicating policy direction about the arm of government which he pilots.

Credit should go to the House Leader perhaps, as someone who has sponsored the highest number of private member bills at the seventh Assembly and presenter of all executive bills. But Rivers People would wish to see less controversial bills and more of bills, that will better the lives of the ordinary people.

As leaders and politicians, the events of today represent testimonials for them. Therefore, they must endeavour to write their names in gold especially for those that nurse further political ambition.

The duo of Hon. Godstime Horsfall and Hon. Kelechi Nwogu should stamp their feet in redirecting proceedings of the House by calling the lawmakers to order when they exceed the issues in focus at the floor of the Assembly, while the House Whip (a.k.a) legislative “OzomoRock” can also ultilise his philosophical prowess to aggregate legislative business.

Tonye Harry as a foundation State Lawmaker of the present Democratic dispensation 1999 to date is hardly felt in the Assembly.

As the saying goes, to whom much is given, much is expected.