Rt. Hon. Aminu Iya Abbas, Speaker ADHA
Satisfied with its outstanding performance in deepening democratic governance, enhancing quality representation in Adamawa state of Nigeria, the State House of Assembly has passed a vote of confidence on the International Republican Institute (IRI) for its remarkable performance in the state.
The hallowed chamber which has 25 Honourable Members who represent 25 constituencies across the state, unanimously passed the vote of confidence on the institute for promoting legislative activities at the House of Assembly.
To this end, the State Legislators resolved and sought for the renewal of tenure of 4 years for the institute to enable it create more knowledge for the Members on how to deliver on their mandate through floating people oriented legislation, effective and efficient oversight function, presentation and the execution of constituency projects.
The institute, according to the Members, had built their capacity via training and retraining on their primary function of enacting laws, resolutions as well as political engagement; hence the need for the extension of tenure so as to expose them more on the rudiments of legislature.
The vote of confidence and request for the extension of tenure by Honourable Members followed a debate matter of public importance brought before the hallowed chamber by the Member representing Gombi constituency, Hon. Japhet Kefas at the resumed plenary session on Wednesday.
Earlier, Hon. Kefas reminded his colleagues on the benefits of operating hand in hand with the organisation, explaining that their partnership has made the Assembly to be ahead of all other Assemblies in the North -East in terms of quality legislation coupled with improvement in citizen engagement.
Hon. Kefas narrated that the house has benefited from IRI training of candidates, retreat orientation in Lagos state, support for town halls and citizen engagement techniques, support on bills and advocacy patronage through stakeholders' engagement; visual means of citizen engagement through radio programmes among others.
The Lawmaker disclosed that the outbreak of the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic has stalled so many programmes and training the Assembly would have gained from the institute, as the IRI office is not functional and the Assembly has to observe preventive protocols.
He informed the Members that it came to his notice that the organisation is about widen up its programme in the state; hence the matter of urgent public importance to appeal to the organisation and its funders for an extension of its intervention in the State especially at the Assembly for four (4) years.
Supporting the motion, the erstwhile Speaker of the Assembly and Member representing Yola South Constituency, Rt. Hon. Kabiru Mijinyawa, described the institute as a credible partner in progress, and appreciated it as well as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID.
Rt. Hon. Kabiru stated that his constituents and himself enormously benefited from the activities of the institute, explaining that the organisation has widened their scope of knowledge in legislative activities.
Also speaking, Hon. Kate Raymond Mamuno(Demsa constituency) said that the importance of the institute to them cannot be overemphasised, saying that she was one of the beneficiaries of the programmes of the institute.
Hon. Kate added that IRI has trained them in so many areas of their political engagement, saying this is the first of its kind in the state and the country at large.
On his part, Hon. Adwawa Donglock(Guyuk constituency) said that the motion affects all the 25 Members of the Assembly in that they are the direct beneficiaries of the initiatives of the IRI, and went ahead seconded the motion for the stay.
In his contribution, Hon. Bathiya Wesley gave kudos to the organisation for building the capacity of the Legislators, saying that the organisation is of great benefit to them.
He specifically commended the staff of the organisation for their commitment towards their official activities, and prayed that their tenure should be extended for 4 years for the greater benefit of the Assembly and the State at large.
Baring his mind, Hon. Abubakar Isa(Shelleng constituency) told his colleagues that he was not aware that the institute is rounding up its activities in the State, saying IRI is the only organisation that is poised to training and retraining the political office holders on how to deliver on their campaign promises.
The Legislator asserted that the primary objectives of IRI is to see that democracy thrives in the society, observing that it is going to be a serious setback on Adamawa if the organisation leaves the State now, urging it to help and continue to improve the capacity of the Members.
He further noted with delight how the organisation has been training them and their electorate free of charge, and pointed out that the extension of the tenure will go along way in equipping them for the task ahead.
Also speaking, Hon. Simon Isa( Song constituency) commended it for developing democratic processes in the State, testifying that he had attended the training of the institute even before his election, and that it had helped him a lot in his activities.
Hon. Simon advocated the need for it to enlarge its scope of training to political parties and youth groups as well extend its coverage to other Northern States for them to benefit.
Contributing on the motion, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Pwamwakeno Mackondo highlighted some of the areas they benefited from IRI and prayed the his colleagues to join him in passing vote of confidence on the organisation.
Also speaking, Hon. Shuaibu Babas(Fufore Gurin constituency) called on the institute not to relent in organising seminars and town hall meetings if its tenure is finally renewed.
Speaking while presiding over the sitting, the speaker, Rt. Hon. Aminu Iya Abbas explained that whatever his colleagues said at the floor cannot exactly demonstrate the quantum of assistance rendered to them and their electorate by the organisation.
Rt. Hon. Aminu Iya Abbas stated that he heard the name of IRI shortly before his election and that the organisation trained both the 2 major political parties in the state, and that luckily enough both parties had won elections at various positions.
He noted that apart training, the institute had sponsored 2 bills which were passed and assented to by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, sponsored resolutions and most of their public hearing for them to get inputs from stakeholders, engaging in budgeting processes and setting agenda for the 7th Assembly which they now follow religiously.
He pleaded with the funders of IRI, Development Partners, Donor Agencies, European Union and USAID to renew its stay in Adamawa so as to assist them towards entrenching democratic governance in the society.
