…As Oyo Speaker, don, critical stakeholders harp on impactful legislation
By Adeyinka Adeniran
Oyo State House of Assembly has embarked on a training and validation workshop to institutionalize Post Legislative Scrutiny (PLS) to strengthen and redirect legislative procedures and activities of lawmakers in the country, a development aimed at advancing the course of governance and democracy in the country.
This is as the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, the Director, Democracy and Governance, National Institute Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Adewale Aderemi, Clerk of the House of Assembly, Mrs Taiwo Muraino-Akinola and other critical stakeholders in the legislative arm of government harped on impactful legislation, describing it as tool for sustenance of our democracy.
They spoke at the opening of a 2-day training and validation workshop to institutionalize PLS in the Oyo State House of Assembly, organized by NILDS in partnership with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the Oyo State House of Assembly in Ibadan.
In his remarks, Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin said the introduction and adoption of Post Legislative Scrutiny, (PLS) would shape the art of legislation at various levels of the Assembly as well enhanced sustenance of democracy.
He said, “The introduction of PLS into our legislative framework is a testament to our commitment to deepening democracy, fostering inclusiveness, and ensuring that the voices of the people we serve resonate in the decisions that shape their lives.
“This approach not only strengthens legislative processes but also builds trust and collaboration between lawmakers and constituents.
“This workshop will provides an invaluable platform for us to equip ourselves with the skills, knowledge, and strategies necessary to implement PLS effectively. By doing so, we affirm our collective dedication to transparency, accountability, and citizen –centered governance’
In his address, Professor Aderemi described PLS as a legislative procedure that is an oversight function of post monitoring and evaluating laws has been passed whether they are working as intended.
He explained further that legislative passed laws on daily basis but how impactful are those laws, saying “most of the bills that were presented and passed at the various levels of the Assembly were establishment bills rather than review or amendment bills with meaningful impact on the lives of the people. This development is worrisome.
“It is the impact of the laws on the people that democracy is meant. It is good to pass bills into laws but the quest is, how impactful are such laws on the lives of the people? The number of bills passed should not be a yardstick to assess the performance of either the National or House of Assembly but its impact on the lives of the people.
In his goodwill message, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Abiodun Aikomo commended the initiative saying the introduction of PLS into the Oyo Assembly legislative framework is a testament to the state commitment to deepening democracy, fostering inclusiveness, and ensuring that the voices of the people the government is serving resonates in the decisions that shape their lives.
Represented by the Director, Legal Drafting and Parliamentary Counselling, Dr T. A. Dairy, the Commissioner stressed that the approach will not only strengthens legislative processes but also builds trust and collaboration between lawmakers and constituents.
He said, “The introduction of PLS into our legislative framework is a testament to our commitment to deepening democracy, fostering inclusiveness, and ensuring that the voices of the people we serve resonate in the decisions that shape their lives.
“This approach not only strengthens legislative processes but also builds trust and collaboration between lawmakers and constituents.
“This workshop will provides an invaluable platform for us to equip ourselves with the skills, knowledge, and strategies necessary to implement PLS effectively. By doing so, we affirm our collective dedication to transparency, accountability, and citizen –centered governance.”
In her remarks, the Clerk of the Assembly, Mrs Taiwo Muraino-Akinola said the workshop, organized by the Westminster Foundation for Democratic Development (WFD) in collaboration with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), symbolizes a forward-thinking approach to legislative excellence, one that goes beyond law-making to ensure that every legislation pass fulfills its intended purpose.
She noted that the concept of PLS which stems from a recognition that the legislative process does not end with the assent of a Bill but rather begins a new phase of responsibility via implementation and impact assessment.
According to her, laws crafted with the noblest intentions, often face challenges when put into practice. The challenges, she said, range from inadequate resources to institutional bottlenecks and unintended consequences.
“Without a mechanism to monitor and evaluate these laws, we risk enacting legislation that fails to address the problems they were intended to address. This oversight is what PLS seeks to correct. It provides a structured framework for reviewing the implementation, effectiveness, and relevance of laws, ensuring they remain dynamic tools for societal transformation.
“There is no doubt that institutionalizing PLS will not only enhance the quality of our legislative outputs but also solidify public confidence in the legislature as a vital arm of government.
“Through scrutiny enabled by PLS, we can identify gaps, propose amendments, and hold implementing agencies accountable. This process creates a feedback channel that fosters accountability, transparency, and evidence- based decision making.
“Furthermore, PLS is a global best practice, and its institutionalization will position the Oyo State House of Assembly as a pacesetter in legislative innovation in Nigeria.
“In an era where governance challenges are becoming increasingly complex and multifaceted, PLS offers us a way to ensure that our legislative efforts directly and positively impact the lives of our people”, the Clerk said.
In his presentation, the Country Director of Westminster, Adebowale Olorunmola said the PLS would strengthen the nation”s democratic rule.
