By By, Uchechukwu Ugboaja, Abuja
A political pressure group known as the Nigeria Good Governance Group have called for better cohesion between the Legislature and their executive counterparts for the good governance and development of the country.
As a National Political Pressure Group which has been focused on ensuring that political office holders and appointees of government carry out their responsibilities with the aim of delivering the dividends of demo racy to the electorate who voted them in, and as part of their ongoing campaign to contribute to nation and the deepening of democratic practice in our nation.
Led by the BOT Chairman, General Chris Garuba(rtd) and the Director General of the organisation Frederick D. Umoren, the team had a closed door meting with Speaker Yakubu Dogara and some ranking members of the House of Representatives to discuss burning national issues which range from amending some laws that proscribe menial penalties for financial crimes, capital punishment, legislative/executive relations among others.
Speaking with BlackBox Nigeria correspondent at the end of the meeting that lasted for over 2 hours at th the national assembly complex, the Chairman of the board reinstated the groups commitment to advocate for good governance in Nigeria as it is the fastest way to end the numerous challenges facing us as a nation including poverty.
The DG who insisted that they decided to bring this campaign 1st to the House of Representatives who are by law the main representatives of the people and with the recommendations brought to them he believes that the future of our democracy is bright. “the Legislature holds the key to everything that has to do with good governance in Nigeria, they make the laws and that informs our decision to take our campaign of good governance first of all to the house of reps who are the main representatives of the people. It is going to go a long way because with the suggestions that we have made, if incorporated into the constitution especially with the ammendments that is going on now I can tell you that for the first time we might just begin to witness good governance in Nigeria at all levels.”
The Chairman of the group General Chris further confirmed that the campaign will be taken to all the organs of government to ensure that there will be an all inclusive approach to the issue of good governance especially as most local government are currently seen as mere appendages of the state governments as the governors often appropriate their funds and not allowing them to carry out their functions independently as a constitutionally recognised entity in the process of governance. This he claimed has greatly impeded the progress and development of our rural or local economy thus putting so much pressure on the federal and state governments. According to him, local government elections in this clime are are never without the influence of the state governors and this has been the culture over the years, but if we are to insist on good governance this has to be reversed immediately and it is the responsibility of the national assembly to come up with laws as we have just proposed in our meeting with the speaker that clearly distinguishes these organs of government, he said.


