These specific initiatives are funded through the government budget and are intended to address the needs and improve the conditions of constituents.
By Saidu Idris
365Daily – The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, on Wednesday commissioned some projects facilitated by the Chief of Staff to the President and immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
A statement by the Special Adviser to Abass, Mr Musa Kirshi, said the projects, which were facilitated by Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the 9th Assembly, include the Surulere Study Centre of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and a 484-bed Femi Gbajabiamila Hall of Residence at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Similarly, the Speaker on Tuesday opened an 80-bed hospital at Imota in Ikorodu, Lagos State, facilitated by the member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency and the Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson.
Speaking at the separate events on Wednesday, the Speaker commended Zonal Intervention Projects popularly called constituency projects, saying they are successfully addressing the needs of Nigerians, especially at the grassroots.
He noted that legislative representation and constituency projects are two critical components of a functioning democracy, especially in a representative system of government like Nigeria’s presidential democracy.
“These specific initiatives are funded through the government budget and are intended to address the needs and improve the conditions of constituents,” he stated.
Speaker Abbas also noted that for many Nigerians, especially at the grassroots, it is through constituency projects that they see the most direct and tangible manifestation of the government and democracy.
“However, there has been a widespread and endemic misunderstanding of the purpose and essence of these legislative interventions. Constituency projects are not mere items in a budget; they are the lifelines that connect the heart of our government to the heartbeat of communities,” he stated.
The Speaker explained that by tailoring projects to local contexts, development is not just a concept discussed in the halls of the legislature but a reality experienced in the streets, villages and towns across Nigeria.
“Furthermore, constituency projects best reflect participatory governance, given that local communities are involved in the decision-making process. This approach does not just build infrastructure; it builds trust, confidence, and a sense of ownership among the people.”
Saying he was personally encouraged by the many success stories that had emerged from constituency projects over the last two decades, Speaker Abbas noted that schools had opened doors to education, healthcare facilities had saved lives, and infrastructure had bridged literal and metaphorical gaps between communities.
The Speaker added: “These success stories are not just achievements; they inspire millions of Nigerians at the grassroots level and show that the government cares about them. With greater transparency and accountability, constituency projects can be the most viable tools for developing forgotten sections of Nigeria.
“I intend to re-introduce a reviewed version of the Constituency Development Fund Bill to provide a legal framework for the management, disbursement, utilisation and accountability of funds designated for constituency projects.
“I urge all legislators and members of the House of Representatives to emulate Hon. Gbajabiamila and renew their commitment to constituency projects. We must work with integrity and purpose to bring about meaningful change for our constituents. We should remember that the true measure of our success as legislators is not just in the laws we pass but in the lives we uplift directly.”