Former lawmakers comprising the former national assembly members, states assembly and councillors, under the auspices of the Nigerian Former Legislators Forum, NFLF, Saturday, held it’s maiden summit in Enugu ,seeking collaboration with government , serving legislators,and the civil society organisations (CSOs)to harness their wealth of experience in national development. At the maiden summit with the Theme: “Nigerian Former Legislators Forum, NFLF, Democracy and Shaping National Development”, held at the International Conference Centre, ICC, Enugu, the forum commended the Governor of Enugu state, Dr.Peter Mbah for providing a conducive environment and world class facilities go or the success of the summit, describing the Governor as “a Governor in deed”,
Pix: Gov Mbah(2nd Right) Senator Anyim(1st Right)
Rising from the summit, the Forum which compromise former senators, former members of the Federal House of Representatives, former States Assembly members and former Councillors drawn across the country with the Convener and Deputy speaker, RT. Hon. Benjamin Okezi Kalu ,appreciated the national assembly for for their contributions to national development.
In the communique presented at the end of the summit by the National Coordinator, Hon. Uko Ndukwe Nkole, the Forum established the Nigerian Former Legislators Forum(NFLF) as a national platform for leveraging expertise and wisdom of former legislators to strengthen governance in Nigeria and to commit to the growth and institutionalisation of the national forum in the spirit of national development.
The Forum agreed to commit to a knowledge bank and resource centre.
The forum resolved to mid wife a suitable resource centre and knowledgeable bank that will serve as repository of legislative knowledge and a policy advisory hub to improve governance .
According to the communique, the forum will henceforth function as a permanent centre for strategic legislative support and development ideas , especially as relates to sustainable national transformation.
The forum committed to developing a proper framework and to facilitate the convergers of other geopolitical zones for expanded and contributions to the national discourse.
The forum acknowledged that the collective experience of the former legislators must be harnessed as national assets in pursuit of sustainable development.
It was agreed that the forum will actively contribute to national discourse, policy directions through advisory roles and issue- based engagement.
The forum resolved to undertake a post legislative scrutiny of key laws and policies on constitutional amendments from 1999 to date and to assess the real impact on national development.
“Members also commended the host, Governor of Enugu, H. E Dr. Peter Mbah for his warm hospitality and for providing a conducive environment and world class facilities for the successful hosting of this summit. For the Enugu people I agree with you that tomorrow is here”, the forum said.
Pix: Gov Mbah
The forum seeks collaboration with the serving legislators, civil society and development partners to enhance Nigeria’s Democratic resilience and institutional capacity.
The host Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah had earlier expressed delight welcoming the former legislators. .He said the idea to have the maiden edition of the Nigeria ‘s Former Legislators Forum Conference in Enugu was quite fitting ,given Enugu ‘s history. “This is because it was here that the earliest formal legislative activities started ,right here in Enugu and this was sometime around the 40s, when the defunct Eastern regional House of Assembly was inaugurated alongside two other Houses of Assembly ”
Applauding the initiative of establishing the Forum, Governor Mbah said , “Legislation requires great insight as the guest lecturer has mentioned and this is why it’s function is very sensitive in any democracy, the Nigeria’s former legislators forum is a great idea given the wealth and the pool of human resources that we have here.
“This country can benefit from the wealth of experience of the human resources we have here. .We can only leverage from them”, Mbah said.
He commended the Convener, RT. Hon. Benjamin Okezi Kalu ,assuring Enugu state Government ‘s collaboration. “As government, we are wholly inclined to partnering or collaborating with you inorder to leverage from this wealth of experience,” Governor Mbah said.
Author’s Maureen Ikpeama