Stakeholders call for more citizens engagement to promote legislative accountability
By Khadija Aliyu
Participants of a two days session, emphasized the need for citizens lawmakers engagements on quarterly basis, to promote legislative openness and accountability.
This was part of recommendations of a two days interractive session, with house leaders, committee chairs and Citizen groups, to develop a strategy to support the 10th Kano house of assembly.
The interactive session, recognized the pivotal role the State House of assembly plays, in strengthening citizens-legislative engagements on education, health, media engagement, GBV, budget process as well as achieving OGP commitments in Kano state.
Participants also recommended legislative financial autonomy, organized budget tracking,uploading MTEF sessions on the internet, improved synergy between citizen groups, and the legislature, regular engagements with constituents in addition to strengthening media legislative reporting, for accurate and timely documentation and reporting, of legislative oversight functions and house proceedings.
Papers presented during the session, focused attention on the role of Citizens in enhancing budget transparency, Citizen’s engagement, around health and education sectors, while identifying strategies and opportunities for media engagements by legislature.
Others are, lawmakers as partners in advancing OGP commitments in Kano state, as well as strengthening delivery of commitments/services through effective web based monitoring and tracking.
In his remarks, the speaker Kano state house of assembly, Alhaji Isma’il Jibril Falgore,represented by his deputy Alhaji Muhammad Bello Butu Butu reiterated kano state house of assembly’s dedication in mapping out laws aimed at uplifting the state to international standards.
He stressed that, their doors are open to receive positive inputs from citizen groups, and civil society organizations, for the development of the state.
In his presentation titled ‘ the structure, composition and processes of legislation in KNHA, the acting clerk Alhaji Ali Maje provided an insight into the house activities.
He noted that, the notice of motion paves way for the public, to have a clear understanding of upcoming motions, to be presented on the floor of the house.
Earlier in his remarks the state Partnership facilitator PERL (ECP), Alhaji Yunusa Hamza hinted that, the objective of the session was to, facilitate a process that, could lead to developing and implementing a legislative agenda that, reflects Citizens needs and aspirations.
He maintained that, it would also encourage citizens interaction with members of the 10th assembly through engagements.
The two days interactive session, supported by PERL, was marked by paper presentations by Dr. Auwal Halilu CSACEFA, Hajiya Mairo Bello AGIH,Dr. Abdulasalam Kani CISLAC, Dr. Nura Haladu KaNSLAM,Akibu Hamisu Kano budget working group,Muhammad Bello AFRI-CIRD,
Hajiya Halima Ben Umar and Mubarak Daha and Tahir Mahmud from Kano tracker.
