Nigeria politicians have been tasked to make themselves accessible to people they represent, saying adequate representation starts with regular engagement with their constituents .
This advice was given at the NUJ secretariat, Ado Ekiti in a programme tagged “citizens ‘ Watch by Justice for Development and Peace initiative’ of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti State and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ekiti state council on the performances of the national Assembly members representing Ekiti North.
Presenting the second edition of the programme, JDPI director , Rev Father Emmanuel Akingbade and the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi had tasked Senator Cyril Fasuyi representing Ekiti North, Hon Akintunde Rotimi representing Ikole /Oye Federal Constituency 1 and Hon Kolawole Akinlayo, representing Ido-Osi/ Moba /Ilejemeje Federal Constituency to engage their constituents regularly to knowing their basic needs .
The independent body whose report shown projects executed by national assembly members to include; provision of solar powered boreholes, solar street lights, Establishment of Information and Communication Technology centers, construction of youth centers, procurement of medical facilities, agric business capacity building, entrepreneurs, empowerments among others.
JDPI and NUJ advocated that the representatives should make it point of duty to always organise town hall meetings periodically with their constituents to fill their pulse, saying prioritizing the masses would not only involved the masses in governance but reduced wastages that might occured in executing projects that are not in tandem with constituents needs.
Earlier, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of journalists, Ekiti state Council, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi had told the gathering that the report was not to wit-chunt the national assembly members but to make them more accountable and responsive to their constituents.
He stressed further that Ekiti would witness more development, if projects that have direct impact on the masses are embarked on .
Stakeholders’ at the gathering expressed their views on the report, saying it’s a welcome development. They commended the JDPI and NUJ for the initiative.