After a calling out on X social media platform, two bills sponsored by Rep. Sowunmi finally make first reading
After citizens called him out for not sponsoring a bill between June 2023 and May 2024, a member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, representing Ojo federal constituency, Lagos state, has presented two of his bills for first reading at plenary today.
Both bills titled, ‘Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2024 (HB.1535)’ and ‘National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2024 (HB.1536)’ were said to have been sponsored hitherto as supporters of the lawmaker tried to disclaim OrderPaper‘s signature annual report card of the national assembly which revealed that Sowunmi did not sponsor a bill between June 2023 and May 2024.
The report card, which focused on lawmaking as a core function of a legislator, revealed that some members of the 10th National Assembly had not sponsored bills within the first year of their four-year term of office.
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However, since the publication of the report card of individual lawmakers, some without bills in the period under review have been showing some performance. Rep. Sowunmi rolled out two bills today, Wednesday, October 9, 2024. Both bills are now awaiting second reading. This move by the Lagos lawmaker, elected on the platform of the Labour party (LP), comes on the heels of backlash he had received from many citizens on X, who posited that as beneficiaries of the popular obidient wave which defined much of the 2023 general elections, parliamentarians on the party’s banner ought to deliver better services in terms of bills and other legislative functions.
In support of Rep. Sowunmi, some X users disputed OrderPaper’s report card by claiming that he had sponsored the two bills presented today. The lawmaker also reacted by threatening legal action.
This further drew more criticisms from citizens. An X (formerly Twitter) user, @TheoAbuAgada, commented on the matter, stating, “Excuse me, Honorable. How does a citizen’s request for accountability from an elected official justify a defamation lawsuit? Whoever advised you to pursue this does not have your best interests at heart. She has done nothing wrong to warrant being sued.”
The presentation of Rep. Sowunmi‘s two bills today validates OrderPaper‘s report card. This development reflects the increasing scrutiny lawmakers face and the importance of transparency and accountability in governance. It also highlights the positive impact of independent performance appraisals by OrderPaper, which serve as tools for holding public officials accountable and encouraging them to fulfill their legislative duties.
