Ugandan lawmakers have traveled to Nigeria to study the constituency project system and Nigeria’s Constituency Development Fund (CDF). This initiative aims to improve legislative relations with constituents and enhance grassroots development. The workshop organized by NILDS fosters dialogue, sharing insights between Ugandan and Nigerian legislators to strengthen governance practices.
Members of the Ugandan Parliament’s Budget Committee have arrived in Nigeria to study the constituency project system. The Chairman, Mr. Philip Opolot, spoke at a workshop hosted by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), aiming to understand the operations of Nigeria’s Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
The workshop was themed “Maximising Impact through Effective Utilisation of Constituency Development Fund for Better Quality Representation at Parliament.” Opolot explained that in Uganda, funding currently resides with the executive, which manages interventions as necessary. Discussions are underway to empower lawmakers to oversee the CDF, leveraging their closer ties to constituencies.
Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, Director-General of NILDS, emphasized the importance of fostering strong constituency relationships to improve the effectiveness of CDF utilization. He noted that modern democracy requires responsive interactions between elected representatives and the citizens they serve to address collective needs effectively.
Sulaiman outlined how constituency relations facilitate mutual benefits: representatives gain insights into constituents’ needs and receive feedback about governance performance, while constituents have a platform to communicate their concerns. Furthermore, he stressed that the CDF is vital for grassroots development, enabling lawmakers to finance community projects effectively.
Ambassador Philip Odidah, Deputy High Commissioner of Uganda to Nigeria, praised the Nigerian National Assembly’s efforts to strengthen legislative institutions across Africa. He noted the crucial role of parliaments in democracy and highlighted the importance of this capacity-building initiative for Ugandan parliamentarians.
The Director-General encouraged parliamentarians to engage fully with the expertise offered during the workshop, referring to it as an opportunity for constructive dialogue and cooperation between Uganda and Nigeria’s legislative bodies.
The arrival of Ugandan lawmakers in Nigeria to study the constituency project system signifies a commitment to enhancing legislative efficiency in Uganda. The workshop aims to equip them with knowledge regarding Nigeria’s CDF, emphasizing strong constituency relationships as vital for effective governance. This initiative reinforces the importance of collaboration in addressing citizens’ needs and improving grassroots development.
Original Source: nannews.ng
