Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The International Human Rights Observatory Africa (IHRO-Africa) says it will launch a programme to monitor activities of the National Assembly on accountability and good governance.
The Special Envoy and Country Director of IHRO-Africa to Nigeria, Dr Chimbo Obieze, said this on Thursday in Enugu while speaking to newsmen on the international group’s interest to monitor activities of lawmakers nationwide.
Obieze said that before the first quarter of the 2024 runs out, the group would be launching “The Legislators’ Diary” to ensure dividends of democracy to get to millions of Nigerians.
He said that the project would be an internationally funded programme to promote accountability and good governance by tracking all constituency projects as well as other largesse meant for the people.
According to him, the Legislators’ Diary will be a game changer as it will not be business as usual.
He said: “It will be well funded and even with international funding to ensure the desires of IHRO-Africa floating the programme was achieved.
“We are going to use our local and international networks to monitor and even block funds meant for the people that are finding their way to foreign countries.
“IHRO-AFRICA will use the Legislators’ Diary to expose ill-intent legislators and force them to do the needful as it concerns caring and providing what is rightful and due to their constituents.”
Obieze, however, commended the national and state assembly members that were already providing quality representation to their constituents.
“IHRO-AFRICA will not fail to commend and encourage lawmakers that are leading by positive examples, care, good governance and dividends of democracy to their constituents.
“These positive actions are already reducing the rate of hardship and hunger and giving the people a sense of belonging in the country,” he added.
