A member of the House of Representatives has urged Nigerians to stop assessing the performance of lawmakers mainly by the number of constituency projects they attract to their areas.
Speaking to journalists in Calabar, the lawmaker explained that the primary constitutional responsibility of legislators is lawmaking and oversight, not the execution of development projects. According to him, while constituency projects such as roads, schools, healthcare facilities, and empowerment programmes can benefit communities, they should not be the main benchmark for judging legislative performance.
He noted that the growing emphasis on constituency projects has created a misconception about the true role of lawmakers, often shifting public attention away from critical issues such as quality legislation, policy formulation, and effective oversight of the executive arm of government.
The lawmaker encouraged citizens to demand stronger laws, accountability, and people-focused policies from their representatives, stressing that these have a more lasting impact on national development than isolated projects.
He added that constituency interventions should only serve as complementary efforts, not a replacement for the core duties assigned to legislators by the constitution.
The statement has reignited discussions nationwide on how elected officials should be evaluated, with many analysts calling for a broader understanding of legislative responsibilities and performance.
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