Distinguished guests, Members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, fellow compatriots, it gladdens my heart to welcome you all to this eventful occasion. I, also, on behalf of the Lagos State House of assembly, express my profound gratitude to all participants for honoring our invitation even though it came after an earlier postponement. All the same, I thank the Almighty God that this programme has finally seen the light of day.
Our country’s return to democracy in 1999 could never have been possible without the civil society. The Civil Society community especially the Human rights and pro-democracy organizations have contributed immensely to nation building through their leading role in the enthronement of civil rule via a protracted but victorious struggle against prolonged military dictatorship in Nigeria.
Moreover, in the post-military era, the consistent and resourceful intervention of the Civil Society community in entrenching and strengthening democratic values and institutions cannot be over-emphasized. In fact, social and political activists have over the years, evolved as critical partners to government institutions in the formulation of people-driven policies and invention of developmental initiatives that are capable of alleviating poverty and raising the standards of living among the good people of Lagos State.
Beyond these, mutual collaboration between government and non-governmental organizations has tremendously helped in the protection of the rights of the haves and the haves-not as well as the reduction of corrupt practices in the public and the private sectors to the barest minimum; this has been made possible through pro-active advocacy and interaction with the people at the grassroots.
This programme is the maiden edition of our Legislative-Civil Society Parley. However, I wish to inform this noble gathering that the Lagos State House of Assembly has always partnered with members of the Civil Society especially during the various public hearing sessions that characterize our law making process. Invariably, the laws that emanate from this Legislative House have the input of the CSOs and other relevant stakeholders.
Nevertheless, it is our candid belief, that the legislature, more than any other arm of government, should have more engaging interaction with various individuals and institutions that are essential to our core business of legislation, budget monitoring, the exercise of oversight on Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the treatment of public petitions, conflict resolution and other functions significant to our statutory roles as legislators.
Therefore, this is a major reason that the theme of this parley is: ‘Leveraging Good Governance through the Legislative Process: The Role of Stakeholders’.
This thematic dialogue has become imperative in the light of the fact that state legislatures are vested with the constitutional responsibility of making, amending and/or repealing laws on any subject matter which borders on the peace, orders, and good governance of the states.
Invariably, in order to establish an atmosphere of peace and tranquility which is needed to enhance sustainable growth and development, all relevant stakeholders including the civil society, the media and religious organizations must be deeply and consciously engaged so that they can play their role in ensuring that the dividends of democracy get to the people.
In a developing country such as ours where a huge proportion of the population is still impoverished, it has become imperative for all well-meaning individuals and organizations to sit together, think together and work together. We must devise new visions and evolve new strategies to address our shared problems. It is when we do this that we can restore the hope of the people and redeem the image of our great country in the comity of nations.
On this note, I enjoin you all to contribute your quota to the promotion of good governance. I thank you for listening and wish you a most resourceful and rewarding deliberation.
EKO O NI BAJE O.
SIGNED:
Rt. Hon. Sabit Adeyemi Ikuforiji
Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly
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