Undoubtedly, legislative business anywhere in the world is considered a serious one and very challenging. Experts believe that this is due to the fact that as the second arm of government, apart from serving as checks and balance apparatus of the executive, the legilature equally sets the tune in order to ensure good governance for the citizens.

Therefore, the legislators who are the mouthpiece and eyes of the people are expected to always be alive to their responsibilities. This is partly by coming up with various motions and bills that could assist the executive arm of government in the discharge of its duties of providing basic privileges of life to the citizenry.

The legislature is also mandated to scrutinize bills that emanate from the executive, civil society groups or individuals. In achieving this task, pundits believe that it is imperative that the legislators must, from time to time update the knowledge of discharging their duties as lawmakers and peoples representatives.

Recently, the Kwara state House of Assembly, under the leadership of the Speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad, observed and saw the need to organise workshop for the state legislators to further broaden their experience in the legislative business. This, according to the Speaker, would enable the members to be more equipped and further sharpen their skills in law making processes.

The 3-day workshop, which took place at Ede in Osun State, last week saw the legislators lectured on how to ensure proper budget planning, conduct oversight functions, drafting of motions, sponsoring of bills and how to maintain the Standing Orders.

The selected resource persons from the Nigeria Legislative Institute took the legislators through educative sessions. Throughout the period of the training, the disposition of the legislators showed evidence of commitment and dedication to begin from where the 7th Assembly stopped.

Even before they traveled to Osun state for the retreat, it was noted that the returning and experienced members in the 8th Assembly had never failed to make corrections as the need arises at the plenaries on different occasions. While declaring the workshop open, the Speaker noted that the retreat was important as it would greatly assist the lawmakers in the discharge of their duties.

He stated that the training became imperative because majority of the House members were new in the system, noting that such exposure would greatly assist them to be able to cope with challenges of their work. Ahmad added that having such training would further expose them to how they could work closely with the executive in making policies and programmes that would have positive impact on the citizens.

He also noted that the programme would also assist in budget planning, stressing that it is their constitutional responsibility to scrutinise appropriation bills before passing them into law. The Speaker said this will ensure transparency and accountability from the government.

He, therefore, encouraged the legislators to take advantage of the training in order to be more armed in the legislative work. While stressing the importance of the programme, Ahmad said measures would be put in place to ensure that members benefitted more from such workshop as it would further enhance their participation and enable them contribute positively to the success of the House.

As curtains drawn on the 3-day programme, the lawmakers expressed their satisfaction for the workshop, which they confirmed has further informed and enlightened them on how to go about their various duties. Also speaking, the House Leader, Hon Hassan Oyeleke representing Essa/Shawo/Igodun Constituency, commended the initiative, which he confirmed would in no small way enhance their performances.

Oyeleke said as legislators, their jobs includes making researches on various issues that would aid their legislative assignments. While expressing satisfaction at the end of the training, the Speaker expressed concern that about 70% of lawmakers at national and state levels hardly return to the legislature at the end of any legislative session.

He explained that the more legislators remains in office, the more vibrant and experienced they become. However, the Speaker quickly said he was not advocating a seat-tight syndrome for lawmakers, but further observed that a lot of money is being spent every four years at national and state levels to train newly elected parliamentarians.

Also speaking, his Osun State counterpart, Alhaji Najeem Abdulsalam, said that legislators in advanced countries are allowed to remain in office for many years due to the sensitive nature of their assignment.

Alhaji Abdulsalam therefore decried how lawmakers are replaced after a single term of four years, stressing that the trend amounts to waste of resources and loss of expertise in the area of legislative matters. Various resource persons assured that the workshop would make the 8th Assembly efficient and effective.