Reps “Town Hall Meeting”: EXTENDING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY
Democracy by definition is a government deriving its raison d’etre from
the people. It is a government or “rule by the people”. Athens in
ancient Greece, undoubtedly the birth place of democracy was organized on
to the basis of the ‘polis’ which allows citizens to participate directly
in political issues affecting them. The Athenian democracy is a direct
democracy where people do not elect representatives to vote and decide on
their behalf but vote on legislation and executive bills in their own
right.
Obviously, democracy as a form of government has developed and such direct
participation in political affairs and decision making is not feasible in
modern nation- state. Even in the Athenian democracy, there was
restriction to only adult male of the ‘polis’ in participation. In modern
democracy, people’s participation in governance is done through elected
officials at the executive arm and lawmakers (Senators and
Representatives) at the legislative arm. For the legislature who makes
law for execution by the executive Arm, it is expected that such laws are
based on the wishes of their people and in the Aristotelian sense of
democracy aimed at the highest good of the people.
But once elected, it is not too certain that the wishes of the people are
factored into legislative process of lobbying and passage of bills into
laws. It was to get around this short-coming that the Rt. Hon. Dimeji
Bankole, Speaker of the House of Representatives decided to find ways of
ensuring further participation by the people in the process of law-making. It was from this vision that Rt. Hon. Bankole and the leadership of the
decided to introduce the innovative and unprecedented participatory
democracy in forum in the form of a “Town Hall Meeting”.
Designed as both a feedback mechanism and input from the people, “Town
Hall Meeting” involves the leadership of the House and some members
meeting with a cross-section of the people to get their views and wishes
on issues as well as for the Representatives to give a record of their
service directly to the people.
The first ever of this “Town Hall Meeting” kicked off in Lagos State as
part of a 2-day official visit by Rt. Hon. Bankole and the leadership of
the House between May 2- 3, 2008. After the usual courtesies to the Lagos
State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola(SAN) and the Oba of Lagos Oba Rilwan
Akiolu, to explain the rationale of their visit and the focus of the
House, the Speaker’s delegation went straight to the “Town Hall Meeting”
to an enthusiastic welcome by Lagosians comprising members of the
Professional bodies, Trade Unions, Socio-cultural groups, political
parties, student unions, artisans, business community, community
development associations and religious bodies.
Rt. Hon. Bankole in his opening remarks briefly explained the focus of the
House in ensuring good governance, transparency and accountability
stressing that the widely acclaimed investigations of our recent past was
not targeted at any individuals but is a way of ensuring that mistakes of
the past are corrected and further appropriations justified and well
utilized. He assure the people that the unique step of coming to them
directly is geared towards allowing their electors to make inputs into
law-making as well as gives room for the lawmakers oversight function.
During the interactive session, notable public figures and analysts like
Dr. Fredrick Fasheun, the leader of Odu’a People’s Congress, OPC, Sefinatu
Mohammed, a pro-people human right agitator, Mrs. Codil Okafor of Consumer
Protection Council, Mrs. Iyabode Obasa, chairperson of NULGE, Alhaji
Isiaka Fatori, a community leader, Rasaki Olokoba, secretary general of
Coalition of Odu’a Self-Determination Groups, COSEG, Ayodele Alawali of
Centre for Development of Democracy as well as a plethora of students
union activists and religious leaders all made contributions and inquiries
on issues ranging from infrastructure decay in Lagos, consumer protection,
dilapidated educational infrastructure, legislative backing for newly
created LGAs in Lagos; FOIB and food crisis among other issues.
Rt. Hon. Bankole responded to these queries and contributions with candour
and frankness that underscored the House readiness to take inputs from the
people they represent. He equally gave the floor to relevant House
Committee Chairmen to explain areas of concern to the people. On the
issue of legislative backing for newly created LGAs in Lagos, Rt. Hon.
Bankole restated his earlier position to Mr. Fashola, to the effect that
Lagos State should reach out to other Nigerians and National Assembly to
get the newly created councils listed in the constitution to merit
recognition from the Federal Government. He further told the participant
that the FOIB is not dead as being widely publicized, a fact that was
corroborated by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the sponsor of the bill and a
representative from Lagos. He however stated that there are parliamentary
procedure and process that the bill will have to pass through like any
other bill.
Rt. Hon. Bankole assured Lagosians that the House would champion more
Federal Government attention to Lagos as home for all Nigerians and the
economic nerve centre of the nation. The Speaker dismissed the charge
that the House budgeted N104million for lunch daily for members as this
would amount to lunacy stressing however that in the pressure that
attended the first ever detailed budget some typographical error were
noticed and correction would come through supplementary budget that was
agreed upon in the process of passage of the bill. Actually, as explained
by the Speaker, the budgeted funds were for capacity building, oversight
functions and other running costs.
In all, the “Town Hall Meeting”, which was broadcast live to national and
international audience, is a further demonstration of commitment to the
attributes of transparency, integrity, good governance and accountability
that threw up the leadership of Rt. Hon. Bankole. It is an opportunity
for ordinary citizens to participate in governance beyond just voting at
election.
It is hope that as the “Town Hall Meeting” moves around the states of the
Federation, representation, legislation and oversight would be more
pro-people and our nascent democracy will be further institutionalized and
deepened.
By Kayode Odunaro.
Chief Kayode Odunaro
Special Adviser (Communications) to Speaker
House of Representatives.