Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has instructed the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its affiliates to prioritise preserving Nigeria's democracy in all of their interactions.
Obasa delivered the keynote address today at the NLC Ogun State offices during the ceremony kicking off the 2022 Independence Day Anniversary Lecture with the theme "Nigeria in quest of a durable political structure: need of structural reform."
He asserts that Nigeria can only develop positively if the various unions and people take part in maintaining the nation's democracy.
There are legislative branches of government in operation at both the national and sub-national levels, according to the Speaker, who served as the event's chairman.
He, however, lamented the attempts by some individuals in positions of authority to ‘pocket’ these lawmaking arms of States citing how, in some instances, principal officers of Houses of Assembly are removed at the whims and caprices of single individuals in authority.
“It is high time we all rose to protect Nigeria’s political institution, the parliament. We have seen cases where civil society looked away while democracy faces danger from some individuals.
“We have seen cases where the parliament was closed and where a governor carried out the inauguration of the legislature by midnight”, he said.
In his remark, Olakunle Oluomo, Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, noted that Nigeria simply practices civil rule and not democracy. Adding that any country with a vibrant legislature would have a vibrant democracy.
Meanwhile, Comrade Abimbola Bankole, Ogun State NLC chairman, urged Nigerians to desist from the blame game saying it would not take the country anywhere.
Also, the Guest lecturer at the event, Chief Mike Ozekhomhe (SAN), opined that a new constitution would be ideal for the country. “No president who rules Nigeria will do well. Until we do serious structural adjustment or realignments, none of those who would rule Nigeria can make any spectacular difference,”, he said.
However, Ogun State Head of Service, Nafiu Aiyedun, who represented Governor Dapo Abiodun, promised that the government would continue to focus on the welfare of workers.