Former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, urged the 10th National Assembly to prioritise its legislative agenda towards addressing national malaise bedeviling the country.
Senator Mark made the call in a paper presentation Saturday at the just ended retreat for principal officers of the National Assembly in Ikot Ekpene , Akwa- Ibom state.
He listed some of the problems facing the nation to include deteriorating economic situation, high crime rate, unemployment, farmers/ herders clashes, banditry, terrorism, food shortage , insufficient and decaying infrastructure, out of school children and poor health facilities among others.
He noted that although the problems were primarily not the creation of the legislators but Nigerians elected them to proffer solutions.
Speaking on the theme “improving legislative effectiveness in a multi -party legislature through committees and caucuses,” Mark posited that committee systems and caucuses are essential mechanisms for balancing diversity and promoting effective representation in legislative houses.
To address the myriad of problems facing the country, Mark admonished Senator Godswill Akoabio-led principal officers of the National Assembly to be innovative , think and act outside the box, pointing out that it cannot be business as usual.
“You must therefore design a legislative agenda that can provide a legal and regulatory framework that will support government initiatives and policies. The agenda must show in clear and concrete terms how to address the issues facing nation.
“It must respond to critical national issues like growing the economy, job creation, tackling insecurity, anti-corruption and show synergy between the legislative agenda and the executive programmes.
“You must honestly debate government policies to ascertain the merits and demerits without party sentiments,” he said.
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