SURVIVAL HAS CHANGE LEGISLATORS from CORE FUNCTIONS _ Prof Sorkaa
By Prosper Okoye –
Former Vice Chancellor of the Benue State University (BSU), Professor Akase Paul Sorkaa has opined that Nigerian legislators are not performing optimally, because they have taken the legislative function as a means for their personal survival, rather than a service to enhance national democratic development and good governance.
He made this known on Wednesday, during a lead paper presentation, on the kickoff of a 3days administrative development training workshop, for staff and members of Benue State House of Assembly Service Commission; organized by the Benue State University Consultancy Services, with the theme: “Innovative and Strategic Administration during and post COVID-19.
Cross Section of participants during the training
Declaring the workshop open, Chairman, Benue State House of Assembly Service Commission, Hon. Sylvester Atachin, on behalf of the Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Titus Uba, reiterated the commission’s commitment to build the capacity of its staff through constant training, so as to enable them effectively and efficiently carryout their functions.
“Our core mandates is to recruit, train, promote and discipline the staff of the commision. The commission is very happy to have an institution like BSU Consultancy Services, that can offer international standard capacity training to our staff, to aid them to be efficient in their jobs. We look forward to extend this training to all the staff of the commision.” Hon Sylvester stated.
While educating the work shop participants, who were made up of the core administrative staff of the legislative service commission, Prof Sorkaa delivered a robust insight on public policy system, legislative and public sector leadership.
He noted that the indepth padegogical approach was apt, as the participating staff are the “backbone” of the legislators, who in recent times have lost track of it core functions.
“It is unfortunate that legislators are focusing on appeasing their constituents, so that they can ensure their survival and re-election to the House.
Most of them have tested poverty, and do not want to be poor again, so they indulge in unscrupulous acts, and condescend to all manner of committee bargains and corruption, inorder to get resources to buy food and drinks for their constituents’ supporters; abandoning their core functions of law making; executive oversight; provision of public education; protection of the citizens; judicial oversight and training for leadership.”
Prof Sorkaa maintained that the main duty of a legislator is not to do constituency projects, and only well educated staff can set them on track again through sound advice.
Tutoring on the theme: “Communication and Government Paper work.” Mr. Peter Oko, said “communication is everything in the civil service.”
He went on to note the types, objectives and channels of communication.
Mr. Oko also trained the participants on the the techniques of minutes writing, Report writing, Writing memoranda, Briefs, File note, Handing over notes, Circular writing and Drafting.
Another training facilitator, Mr. Samuel Iorwuese, delivered a lecture on “Public Sector Financial Procedures.” Aimed at building the capacity of participants on good conduct in public finiancial management.
According to him, “Government accounting is concerned with the process of recording, analyzing, classifying, summarizing, communicating, and interpreting financial information about Government in aggregate details, reflecting all transactions involving the receipt, transfer and disposition of Government funds and properties.” He further admonished participants to pay rapt attention as the teaching session was designed to help them meet these financial functions in their offices and in their public life. “This is because the law does not accept ignorance as an excuse when losses or fraud occurs,” he warned.
In his closing remarks, General Manager, BSU Consultancy Services, Mark Varem Ph.d, commended the commission for availing her staff for training. He also encouraged the participants to “keep training to acquire new ideas, as times and technologies are constantly changing. If you do not train you will be left behind.” Mr. Varem charged.
In an interview with the reporter after the work shop, Acting Head of PRS Legislative Service Commission, Ger Terwase acknowledged that the training has refreshed his knowledge and equipped him with new skills that would help him discharge his official functions optimally.
