Civil society organisations have urged negotiations between contending parties to resolve the impasse that grounded legislative activities at the Plateau House of Assembly.

The CSOs called for a political solution to enable lawmakers to resume their full legislative duties in the state’s interest.

Sixteen members of the parliament, who won their cases at the Appeal Court in November 2023, have not been sworn in.

Some believe that the delay is due to court injunctions, but others think it is due to political calculations.

Steve Aluko, chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), noted that the delay in swearing in the lawmakers was robbing the state of quality legislation.

Mr Aluko urged the parties involved to sheath their swords, go to the negotiation table, and resolve the matter in the best interest of Plateau.

The chairman stated that alternative dispute resolution should be adopted or used to resolve lingering issues instead of injunctions from both sides.

He said whatever the difference, they must align with the interests of the Plateau people.

Mr Aluko further said the unfortunate situation was gradually taking its toll on governance, adding that the executive could not do many things without an active assembly.

“The time of politics has passed, and what the citizens are expecting are the dividends of democracy; this cannot be realised without a functional assembly.

“The logjam is not in the interest of democracy, and it is not for the betterment of Plateau because under the presidential system of government, every arm of government has legitimate function,” he explained.

Mr Aluko pointed out that when it “comes to representing the people, the legislative arms stand stronger. When this is not in place or properly functioning, the quality of lobbying and others will be reduced, and the people will suffer.”

He said, “The Executive needs the legislative arms to do oversight functions, and in the absence of this, it will affect the quality of governance.

“For effective lawmaking, you cannot take 16 out of the 24 members of the state assembly and say the house of assembly is functioning well.”

Gad Shamaki, executive director of the Centre for Law Enforcement and Education (CLEEN) Foundation, said a political solution was the only way out of the logjam.

Mr Shamaki said that leaders of political parties needed to meet and discuss how best to approach the issue.

He advised the stakeholders to give space for the system to run. 

(NAN)