Imo state constituency office survey. CSO charges Legislators on Participatory Democracy.

A Civil Society Organization (CSO), the Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG), established to strengthen democracy and promote good 

governance in Nigeria has charged Imo legislators to establish a non-partisan constituency office in order to build a cordial relationship with their constituents for inclusive and participatory democratic government that will satisfy the needs and aspirations of the electorates.

This call was deduced from the State constituency offices survey report that was carried out in 2014, where a small percentage of Imo citizens visit or know where the constituency offices of their representatives in the state House of Assembly are, as many also indicated that they never see their elected representatives, and when they do, it is invariably just prior to election.

In a press conference held recently in Owerri, the Executive Director of CCG, Dr. Adewale Balogun who was represented by the Programme Officer, Mrs. Juliana Irebgu-Ihejirika noted that there is a gap in the relationship between the Legislators and their constituents which is responsible for the low return rate of legislators to the House of Assembly.

According to him, the situation regarding the constituency offices in Imo State can be better and there is need to realize that at the heart of democracy is citizens participation. Individual representatives are expected to maintain close contact with their electoral areas, consult the people on their needs and the issues they which to be addressed, present them to the House of Assembly for consideration, report back to their electorate the decision taken by the House on their views and proposals, and the actions that will be taken to develop their area as a whole.

Dr. Balogun opined that the closeness and accessibility of a constituency office will help promote equality and social justice as well as enable citizens to access better services and lead improved livelihoods thus building confidence on representation and deepening democracy. He therefore commended the Center for Integrated Development and Social Right (CCIDESOR) and the state enumerators who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the survey.

In the same vein, an Academic, researcher and consultant form Imo State University, Dr. Samuel Ezeanyika reiterated that constituency offices deepens and enriches the political conversation in the state, stating vehemently that public participation in the decision making process improves the quality of decision-making. He further enjoined legislators to facilitate the flow of information and services back to the constituency to empower constituents to participate in developing their communities. He also enjoined stakeholders to join hands to promote and encourage the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria.

By: Ebele Osemeke