Experience in the national assembly is a vital and invaluable asset to the party and the constituencies being represented. It takes considerable amount of time to be effective at law making, to understand the system, to move bills or motions and to have a grasp of the paraphernalia of governance at the center.
This explains why legislators are routinely trained to continuously build capacity in a bid to discharge their responsibilities dutifully. it costs vast sums of money to train legislators, and it would be irrational for the country not to profit from that venture.
The truth is, Senators like Ike Ekweremadu, Ahmed Lawan, in the red chambers just to mention a few, are able to push bills through faster in the Senate having gathered the requisite experience and the wit for sensible politicking.
Their political party and the constituencies they represent are usually the beneficiaries of such experience. More so, senators that have stayed longer in the Senate have displayed a rare capacity to attract more projects to their constituents as well as the privilege of rank, in canvassing their positions or lending their voice to national debates.
For instance , Sen. James Manager was able to achieve the The Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State through the bill he sponsored in the Senate. Beyond the quality and appropriateness of the bill, it was his experience, lobbying and politicking gathered from serving 3 terms in the Senate that warranted the success of the bill.
Senator Fatimat Raji Rasaki, an Harvard University graduate of Leadership in Development, is also tapping from her experiences to move forward her Legislative agenda. This reflects in her being one of the most respected members of the Senate by her colleagues.
I am a strict disciplinarian for merit, and I would not advocate that a non performing representative be returned to the national assembly just to halt the excessive turnover of legislators. However, those who have laurels to show and have fought the good fight should not be denied further opportunity.
I completely align with the position of the Chairman of my party, the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, who recently encouraged the party to reward loyalty and experience. He said,
“Let me assure all of us that the National Working Committee is making this promise publicly and we are doing you no favour. Legislation and the legislature require experience because nobody can give what he does not have. We see people like Senator McCain, when they speak, the American people listen. High turnover of legislators is not a value to be celebrated. What we should celebrate is experience which cannot be read in books, but can only be acquired on the job. I want to reassure you that we will do everything possible to change the old narrative of heavy turn over every four years and the ‘politics of you have done enough, step aside’ will change over time for the good of Nigeria and for the maintenance of democracy”.
Without a doubt, Senator Fatimat Raji Rasaki has remained loyal to the party and her constituents with her performance and actions for the APC in the recently concluded elections in Ekiti State. The good result of the APC in her senatorial district demonstrates her superior strategic mind and grassroot mobilization. I believe the experience she has gathered in the Senate, particularly as the chairman of a vital committee (Trade and Investment) in the Senate, will prove to be a valuable asset in the coming years for her constituents and Nigerians as a whole.
Senator Fatimat Raji Rasaki remains passionate and committed to delivering on every promise made to her constituents; to provide legislative support to the executive, to defend our constitution and to ensure that the common man finds hope in our country.
Thankfully, Senator Fatimat Raji Rasaki has again answered the clarion call from her constituents to continue to serve them at the centre
This piece is from Fatimat Raji Rasaki Solidarity Group
