Dogara: Accountability Begins with Effective Oversight

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has called for stronger collaboration between the National Assembly and civil society organisations to enhance legislative oversight and improve governance.

Speaking at the National Assembly Open Week in Abuja, Dogara said effective legislative oversight remains essential to ensuring that government policies, budgetary allocations and approved projects deliver tangible benefits to Nigerians.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s 25 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, the former Speaker noted that many citizens are yet to enjoy the full dividends of democracy despite the enormous resources appropriated by the National Assembly over the years.
He questioned the persistent disconnect between what the legislature approves and what eventually reaches the people, describing the gap as one of the country’s most pressing governance challenges.
According to Dogara, the constitutional responsibility of legislative oversight goes beyond routine committee visits and official reports, stressing that it should serve as a powerful tool for exposing corruption, inefficiency, waste and poor governance.
He described the National Assembly Open Week initiative as a bold and commendable step towards strengthening democratic accountability, noting that it provides citizens, civil society organisations and the media with an opportunity to engage lawmakers directly, ask critical questions and contribute meaningfully to the legislative process.