By Nkechi Eze
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has called on legislators to place accountability at the heart of governance, stressing that the effectiveness of democratic institutions depends largely on transparency and responsibility in public service.
Olukoyede gave the charge in Abuja on Thursday, August 21, 2025, while speaking at the Policy Dialogue and Public Unveiling of the 10th National Assembly’s Deliberative Barometer and Policy Focus Productivity Report, themed “Legislative Governance Accountability and Productivity Index.” The event was organised by the Erudite Growth and Advancement Foundation (ERGAF-Africa) in collaboration with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC).
According to a statement signed by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, Olukoyede, who was represented by the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Commander of the EFCC CE Wilson Uwujaren, urged the organisers and participants to take into deeper consideration the issue of accountability of legislators in governance. He pointed out that while the report and discussions highlighted important aspects of legislative performance, they were largely silent on accountability.
“The issue of accountability is critical to governance and cannot be overlooked,” he stressed, while also commending the organisers for what he described as “a great job” that would contribute significantly to addressing pressing governance challenges.
Earlier, in a goodwill message, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by Hon. Cyril Godwin Hart, underscored the need to constantly raise the standard of representation, lawmaking, and oversight. He explained that spotlighting legislative output was necessary to strengthen democratic processes and ensure greater impact on governance.
He further noted that beyond institutional reforms, the deliberative barometer aligned with the vision of the 10th Assembly to entrench evidence-based lawmaking. According to him, this approach would compel lawmakers to respond to data, which would serve as a reference point for legislators and stakeholders seeking to evaluate and strengthen contributions to national development.
Also speaking, Professor Abubakar Suleiman, Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, praised the initiative for providing valuable data needed to evaluate the activities of the 10th Assembly. He expressed optimism that accurate data, coupled with the use of artificial intelligence, would drive better decision-making and ultimately enhance transparency and accountability in governance.
Honourable Bamidele Salam, in his remarks, commended the organisers and reminded legislators that leadership was about taking people to where they ought to be. He noted that citizens were more concerned with the dividends of democracy and the tangible results of the mandates given to lawmakers. Salam called for government support to ensure the sustainability of the initiative, describing it as an important step towards strengthening democracy.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders committed to improving legislative governance and accountability in Nigeria.
