ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – A group, the Nigeria Civil Society Desk, has urged the executive arm to provide additional budgetary provisions for the National Assembly for effectiveness.
The group said, during a press conference in Abuja by its national coordinator, Friday Eleojo, and the national secretary, Ijewa Zeb Obioma, that 10 percent of the country’s subsequent budgets should be allocated to the National Assembly.
The group said the Nigerian legislature had suffered a lot since the commencement of this present democratic dispensation despite its tremendous contributions to the country, and that the legislature has been constrained financially to perform its functions.
“The forum is recommending that as from the 2017 budget, a minimum of 10% of the federal government fiscal largess be appropriated for the National Assembly. Also, a proportionate increase in the financial empowerment of the state houses of assembly and the legislative chambers of the local government councils affected.
“The forum hereby advises Nigerians to always ensure that they locate and elect into legislative offices only candidates that can add value to the ideals of the legislature as enshrined in the constitution,” they said.