Group Urges Legislature To Stick To Constitutional Role

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), a
pro-democracy group, has called on the National Assembly to limit itself to the
constitutional role of making laws and oversight functions.

The Executive Director of CISLAC, Malam Auwal Musa, made the
call in an interview with our correspondent
in Abuja.

Musa said the call became necessary to ensure that the
lawmakers were better committed to their constitutional responsibilities and
not involved in any corrupt practise.

According to him, “this will avoid turning the institution
into an avenue of looting and stealing of public treasury’’.

He said the legislature had a responsibility to oversight
the executive and the judiciary, adding that “we cannot allow corruption to
take over the work of legislatures. “

Musa said that legislature had a major role to play in the
evolution of the nation’s democracy, stating that “failure of legislatures to
maintain their role, then our democracy itself is at risk. “

“We must encourage the legislature to discharge its
constitutional role to enable it checkmate the executive, the judiciary wrong
doing and the society in general, “ Musa said.

He advised members of NASS as the apex legislative body in
the country to shun any action that would implicate the members or make them to
be part of corruption.

The CISLAC boss expressed concern over the growing level of
corruption in the country, pointing out that it brought about the increasing
level of poverty, insecurity and unemployment among teeming youths.

“Corruption has become rampant and wide spread across all
sectors, both at local and international institutions in Nigeria.

“This is a very sad situation; especially given the effect
of corruption to the nation’s economy.

“Poverty has increased tremendously and there are collapsed
infrastructure as a result of persistent corruption,’’ Musa said.