Reps Plans Town Hall Meetings with Nigerians

According to the House of Representatives, a series of town hall meetings will be held to promote public participation in its proceedings.

Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House stated during a national discussion that an NGO called Order Paper advocacy initiative, which took place on Wednesday in Abuja.

The plan, Kalu claimed, was a component of the measures the House had approved to support the open parliament initiative, which gave the public access to the legislative activities of their representatives in Congress.

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The cornerstone of a thriving democracy, according to him was a parliament that is approachable, open, and accountable.

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The lawmaker asserted that the discussion’s central theme struck a powerful chord with the participatory governance principles that the 10th Assembly had vowed to uphold.

He said:
“Our commitment to align with the goals and ambitions of this dialogue is unwavering.

“We recognise that to achieve the lofty goals set by the Open Parliament Index (OPI), we must prioritise the standards of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), the Principles of Parliamentary Openness, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) indicators for democratic parliaments.

“The adoption of these benchmarks underscores our determination to create a parliament that is not only accessible but also responsive to the needs and aspirations of our constituents.

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“The 10th Assembly is committed to embracing technology and innovation to enhance transparency and participation.

“We understand that in an era defined by rapid technological advancements, an open parliament must utilise digital tools to bridge the gap between citizens and their representatives.

“This assembly is resolute in its pursuit of leveraging technology to streamline communication, facilitate access to information, and enable meaningful engagement between citizens and their elected officials.”

Participatory governance, according to him, was the cornerstone of the 10th Assembly’s legislative agenda and not just a trendy term.

He said;

“We intend to establish mechanisms that enable citizens to actively participate in the legislative process, ensuring their voices are heard and their concerns addressed.

“Through randomised and hybrid town hall meetings, which you will see from my office starting next year, online platforms, and collaborative policy discussions, which will commence from my office later this year in the form of a policy dialogue event, we aim to create an inclusive space where every citizen’s opinion counts.

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“As the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, I am personally committed to leading the way for innovation and transformation in the realm of participatory governance and open parliament.

“I firmly believe that a parliament that is accessible, transparent, and accountable is the cornerstone of a thriving democracy.”

Kalu explained that the National Assembly’s leadership will be given the results of the discussions to see if they could be incorporated into the legislative schedule.

He believed that the dialogue represented a significant development toward the establishment of a genuine government that was created by, for, and of the people.