Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa-Balewa, a former presidential aspirant for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed strong discontent regarding the performance of lawmakers across Nigeria’s legislative bodies, claiming they have significantly failed the citizens they represent.
In a recent interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, Tafawa-Balewa, who is both a medical doctor and a businessman, addressed the pressing socio-economic issues affecting communities nationwide.
“It is a shame that Nigeria is in the state that it is,” he remarked, emphasizing the disconnect between elected officials and their constituents. Tafawa-Balewa pointed out that lawmakers at various levels, including senators, House of Representatives members, and state assembly representatives, are expected to engage in community service but often fall short of their responsibilities.
He highlighted the substantial financial compensation these lawmakers receive compared to their counterparts in other countries, stating, “The senators, reps, and state assembly members receive a lot more money than lawmakers in the same positions in other parts of the world.”
He criticized their failure to execute community projects effectively, suggesting that when they do engage in such initiatives, the efforts are often inadequate, with funds misappropriated for personal gain.
Tafawa-Balewa called for greater accountability, urging citizens to demand transparency regarding the funds allocated for development purposes.
“Every Nigerian should know how much a senator, House of Reps member, or a state government official receives for development purposes; then we can now start asking them what they do with that money,” he stated.
He underscored the notion that public funds belong to the populace, not a select few, asserting, “This is our commonwealth. The money belongs to all of us.”
Reflecting on the previous administration under President Muhammadu Buhari, Tafawa-Balewa described it as particularly detrimental to the nation’s financial resources.
He accused both the federal government and the Central Bank governor of mismanaging the country’s reserves, stating, “They dipped their hands deep into the coffers of Nigeria and its reserves.”
Moreover, he lamented the ongoing power struggle between state and local governments over statutory allocations, noting that local governments are meant to be the most accessible to the people. Despite this, many grassroots citizens continue to suffer from poverty.
Tafawa-Balewa pointed out the critical issue of food affordability, stressing that many families are struggling to meet basic nutritional needs.
He proposed that if the government is unwilling to regulate food prices, it should allow for open market competition. “For instance, the borders have been opened, and the price of rice is going down. The price of some other foods are going down,” he explained.
Tafawa-Balewa concluded by urging lawmakers to take a more active role in their communities, emphasizing the need for representatives to make a tangible impact on the lives of their constituents.
