By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
KOGI State House of Assembly on Wednesday held an induction course for the 25 newly elected members of the 8th Assembly with call on them to choose their leaders wisely along party lines.
Hon. Haruna Idoko Musa, Special Adviser to Governor Yahaya Bello on Legislative Matters, who declared the one-day induction course open, advised the members-elect not to indulge in anything capable of rocking the state boat.
He urged them to speak with one voice and ensure peace and unity in the course of their legislative and oversight functions in spite of their different party platforms.
Musa stressed the need for the new legislators to toe party lines in electing their leaders saying that doing otherwise would rock the statecraft with serious implications that are of little or no benefit to anyone.
Hon. Haruna Idoko Musa noted that the Legislature was the best place to learn legislative business as it could not be learnt elsewhere but on the job.
He therefore, urged the incoming parliamentarians to be ready to learn and be friendly with legislative staff who would be putting them through and assisting them on the job.
Alhaji Abdulmalik Momoh-Jimoh Andas, Chairman of Assembly Service Commission who spoke on “Legislative Aides and Assistance”, stressed the need for lawmakers to be well acquainted with their prospective aides.
He stressed that a would be legislative aides should be academically sound so as to be able to conduct researches and get data for the use of the lawmakers for the benefit of their constituencies.
Andas also congratulated the elected members whom he commended for attending the training with rapt attention indicative of their seriousness and hope of a robust 8th House of Assembly.
Mr Martins Enimola, retired Deputy Clerk, Administration and General Services, earlier in his lecture titled “Principles and Practice of Emotional Intelligence for Leaders”, stressed the need for lawmakers to manage their emotions well while taking decisions.
A Consultant, Lawal Lamidi in his lecture, titled “Financial Guide to Budgeting”, stressed the need for lawmakers to prioritize their needs and embark on productive ventures for effective representation of their various constituencies.
Alfa Ndagi Ahmed, Deputy Clerk, Kogi House of Assembly also took the members-elect through lecture on “Legislative Practice and Rule of Engagement” while Barr Bamidele Suru schooled them on “Lawmaking Functions of Legislators under the Presidential System”.
