Leaders Must Respect Limits Of Their Powers – Tambuwal

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Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has stressed the need for leaders to understand the limitations of their power in order to create effective leadership and good governance.

Tambuwal who was speaking at the 59th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, yesterday, said only by doing so will they be able to gain the trust and confidence of their citizens.

“We are talking here of the need for leaders to accept and practise the norms and values of democracy, appreciate and understand both the scope and limitations of their powers, and the need to follow the democratic norms of accountability, transparency and respect for the rule. Of law”, he stated.

Delivering a paper entitled, “Inequitable Resource Sharing: A Threat To Democratic Governance”, the speaker added that for democracy to thrive, effective leadership is the only tool that can make good governance possible.

“This requires that leaders steer away from self-indulgent policies and attitudes of the past and focus on creative ways of providing solutions to the nation’s myriad of problems. Without attitudinal change, the dream of institutionalising good governance will remain a mirage,” he said.

He added that government must focus on consistently pursuing the right policies and programmes that will elevate the moral and material well-being of their citizens who look up to them for good governance.

Speaking to the need for equitable distribution of resources in Nigeria, he lamented that the case of marginalization or inequity in resource sharing had constantly threatened the peace of the country which propelled the 7th Assembly under his leadership to “outline a programme of action to achieve developmental goals and address the specific question of inequitable resource allocation and management”.

He concluded by urging the Commonwealth Parliamentary Assembly to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of lawmakers of legislatures in member countries to enable them to use their powers and influence to make their countries better for the citizens.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly would soon conclude deliberations on the Diaspora Bil, now before the House.

Tambuwal said this on Tuesday night at a dinner organised for him and other members of the National Assembly attending the 59th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Johannesburg.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dinner was hosted by the Nigerian Consulate in South Africa.

According to the Speaker,   the Diaspora Bill was designed to integrate the potential of the nation’s citizens living abroad.