The Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), a Pro-democracy, Human and environmental rights Advocacy group, has charged legislators in Abia state to increase their oversight functions on many on-projects in the state.

FENRAD gave the charge in a press release signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, and Head Corporate Accountability and Human Rights Enforcement, Barr. Femisi Akande.

The group expressed worry about what it perceived to be lethargy on the part of the Abia State Seventh House of Assembly and called on the legislators to increase its oversight functions on many projects going on in the state.

“FENRAD, at this point, wishes to ascertain what the position of the House is on Port Harcourt, Obohia, Uratta and Ngwa roads, being a NEWMAP project, beyond committee stage and summonses after a legislator moved a motion on the floor of the house last year. What has the Assembly done to unravel the true situation on ground and make known same to Abians whose taxes keep them?

“FENRAD calls on state lawmakers to oversight dragging projects in the state like the failed Faulks Road, the Osisioma Flyover, Remodelling of Ariaria International and Ahiaohuru markets, and many other projects in the state which have turned to be abandoned.

Meanwhile, FENRAD says it has been following with keen interest, the ongoing push for the recall of Hon. Uzoma Abonta, the member representing Ukwa East and Ukwa West Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives.

The group made it clear that it does not believe in media trial, grapevine rhetoric and political manhunt. “The Foundation, guided by the principles of rights, including fair hearing, insists that the process of recall, once finalized, be allowed to go uninterrupted so that democracy which itself is a game of popularity is served on the constituents of Hon. Uzoma Abonta. And while this is the case, there should be no room for unhealthy tirade and vitriol against the person and office of Abonta until this process is over.

“Recall is one of the checks and accountability mechanisms through which constituents remove the elected legislator they feel does not represent their interest in government. While this remains the status quo, FENRAD says that more needs to be done to ensure that constituents and represented peoples elsewhere mount this kind of oversight on those elected to keep legislators on their toes,” the statement added.

Pushing for initiation of such recall process against unproductive state lawmakers, FENRAD said “it believes that as the issue of Recall is happening at the federal level with the constituents planning to recall its elected Representative, such action should be replicated at the State House of Assembly level.

“FENRAD stresses that constituents should be at alert and monitor their elected Representatives and ensure they hold them to account on service delivery and oversight, it is only when this is done at all levels of government that democracy can thrive and power given to the people. Indeed, when the people control their representatives, democracy strives while anything contrary and otherwise is tyranny by the minority,” the group concluded.

Update news