The member representing Bwari/AMAC Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Obika Chinedu, has called for the scrapping of constituency projects, describing them as a major distraction from the lawmakers’ constitutional responsibilities.
The Labour Party lawmaker lamented that legislators have been forced to play executive roles at the expense of lawmaking and oversight.
“The greatest harm that has been done to the legislative arm of government is this particular thing called constituency project. I hate it,” said Chinedu in a recent chat with Daily Post.
According to Chinedu, lawmakers were elected to make laws and not to execute projects.
“Community projects are not our business. We should only go out to supervise those whose job it is. Legislators have been turned into executives,” he added.
The lawmaker decried the public misconception about the role of lawmakers, saying many Nigerians now hold members of the National Assembly responsible for responsibilities that belong to the executive arm of government.
“People who come to our houses don’t actually bring what we should be working on; rather, they will be telling us what they should be telling the executive,” Chinedu said.
“Instead of being mad at those in the executive for not doing what should have been done, they transfer the anger to legislators whose main duty is lawmaking.”
He noted that this misunderstanding has created undue pressure on legislators, adding that some of them “run away from their people” to avoid incessant demands they cannot meet.
“That is why you see that some legislators run away from their people because of numerous demands that cannot be met. Most times, the communities don’t understand it,” he stated.
Lawmakers Now Chase Roads, Boreholes Instead of Laws – Says Chinedu
Chinedu bemoaned how constituency projects have shifted lawmakers’ focus from legislation to physical projects.
“Everywhere we go, we keep receiving demands from people about one project or the other. People are no longer interested in lawmaking or constitutional reforms that will better their lives,” he said.
He also condemned the politicisation of constituency projects, noting that legislators without access to influential committees or ruling party connections are often unfairly judged as failures by their constituents.
“Some of our colleagues who found themselves in leadership positions have more reach to do things,” he said.
“You will see a legislator that is dedicated, but because he doesn’t have that reach, he won’t be able to attract projects to his constituency, probably because he is from the opposition.”
The Labour Party lawmaker also disclosed that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) received unprecedented budgetary support this year, with over ₦1.8 trillion allocated for infrastructure.
“FCT has never had the kind of budget provisions that it has this time, above ₦1.8 trillion,” he said. “We supported it and passed the law so that we can have accelerated development. We are not supposed to be going here and there doing this. That has rubbished legislation.”
I Remain With Labour Party
Reacting to the recent wave of defections by opposition politicians to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chinedu maintained that he remains a committed member of the Labour Party.
“I am a Labour Party man and I remain in the party until our leader says otherwise,” he said.
“For those that are defecting, it is their choice to do so. If you think where you are is not good for you, you have the choice to leave. That is why we have a multiparty system in Nigeria.”
On the growing security concerns in the capital territory, the lawmaker acknowledged that security operatives are “trying their best”, but said the establishment of an FCT Independent Police Force would greatly improve local safety.
“People complain of insecurity in the capital city because what they see is what happens at a particular time; they don’t see what was prevented,” he said.
“That’s why I’m preaching for the establishment of the FCT Independent Police Force so that we can use a percentage of our revenue to invest in security and secure Abuja.”
He emphasised that, despite public perception, many security threats are being quietly averted due to the efforts of security agencies.
“You don’t know most of the things that I know within the government circle, and I’m not going to let you know it. The security men are trying their best based on the availability of what has been provided,” he added.
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