By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr Ojo Amos Olatunde has charged parliamentarians to make laws that will protect peasant farmers anywhere they are located and curb insecurity in the country.
Olatunde made the call on Monday when members of the Interparliamentry Committee of the Oyo State House of Assembly on a working visited met with him in his office at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
The CNA while addressing the parliamentarians urged them to come up with agendas and legislations that will ensure internal security and stamp out terrorism and killings, kidnapping and other types of vices.
Mr Olatunde who condemned the killing of 43 farmers in Borno last weekend said, “let us not forget what is happening in different parts of the country now – the killing of farmers, the latest one in Borno. That farmers who are the source of providing us with what we eat are slaughtered on their farms is worrisome. What do the farmers have? So if we can legislate in such a way the even peasant farmers are protected, it will be a good sign to everyone and that white-collar jobbers will also be adequately protected.
The CNA also called for adequate funding of the legislature if democracy must be developed. According to him, “In making the budget, make sure you properly budget for legislature because it is the backbone of existence of the federation. Therefore coming down to the state, it is the backbone of the existence of the state.
“As we all know, for for Interparliamentry relation to be properly built up, we need this type of visit and for proper development of the organs of democracy which you are, we this type of visit. Therefore for the development of Oyo State and Nigeria in its entirety, we need this type of visit. So count what you are doing today as historical because it is coming up during your tenure and whatever thing you gain today becomes part of your knowledge acquired.
“As you move from one segment of NASS to another, have it at the back of your mind that money says “when he is not there present, no one should make any plans whatsoever. Therefore you as state legislatures should endeavour to ensure that the legislature itself is well funded because without money there’s nothing to develop the democracy.
“Even the mechanism and process that the committee would have to undergo to deliver on its mandate would not be done without money no matter how minute it is”, he said.
“Let us put that at our mind that as you move to our appropriation committee and as you have interaction with them, mention it that you know it’s the less funded but most shouted about is the legislature.” he added.
The CNA urged the parliamentarians to forget about party affiliation but put the interest of the public at heart in all their endeavours, reminding that like Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila once said, “Nation building is joint task irrespective of political party affiliation. He therefore advised them to be united in this regard.
“Now that we are at that war front, we need to work out our own way to provide enough fund for us to be able to operate properly and don’t forget also that as you move around here to learn about one thing or another, you have a collective responsibility of putting interest of the public at heart, ” he stated.
Earlier in his remarks, Hon Akinajo Olamide who led the Oyo State Interparliamentry Committee, thanked the Clerk of the National Assembly on behalf of the Oyo State House of Assembly for accommodating them on the working visit within that short notice.
Hon Olatunde described the working visit to the National Assembly as historic and first of its kind by the Oyo State House of Assembly.
“We are confident that this visit will help establish a good working relationship both locally and internationally and look forward to a great time here”, he added.
The highlight of the visit was the presentation of the talking drum to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Engr Ojo Amos Olatunde.
