By Mubarak Mahmood

The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has advocated for national legislation to institutionalize constituency development fund that will be responsible for managing constituency projects at national and states level.

Chairman of the conference Abubakar Sulaiman made the call while making presentation during the 2021 National Legislative Conference Organized by the National Orientation Agency NOA in Abuja.

Abubakar Sulaiman who is also the speaker Bauchi State House of Assembly explained that constituency projects help legislators to discharge effective representation, ensure prudence, accountability and improve legislative-executive relations.

The lawmaker added that the institutionalization of constituency project will help in the reduction of poverty and illiteracy through human empowerment and capacity development and improve public perception of the legislature as well as redistributing national resources to the community at the grassroot.

The Chairman further stated that legislators at the state level only identify the projects, recommend contractors and monitor the implementation of the projects through oversight functions.

Highlights of the Conference include speeches and paper presentations by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Mr Boss Mustapha, President of the Senate Senator Ahmed Lawan, Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices Commission Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, members of the National Assembly, Civil Society Organizations among others.