By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Concerned Nigerians have called on the Federal Government (FG) and its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to suspend the funding and implementation of constituency projects nationwide, following recent remarks by a member of the House of Representatives, Mr Bassey Akiba, representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency.
The call comes in reaction to Akiba’s statement on Saturday night during an interaction with selected journalists in Calabar, where he urged constituents to stop assessing lawmakers’ performance based on constituency projects. According to him, Nigerians should instead prioritise good governance, effective representation, and quality legislation when evaluating their elected officials.
Akiba emphasised that lawmaking remains the primary constitutional responsibility of legislators, arguing that project execution falls outside their formal mandate.
His remarks, however, have sparked widespread debate and mixed reactions across the country. While some lawmakers have been credited with facilitating impactful interventions through constituency or zonal projects, critics insist that many such initiatives have become mere “conduit pipes” for public funds, delivering little tangible benefit to communities.
In response, several citizens have argued that if lawmakers insist they should not be judged by constituency projects, then the Federal Government and its agencies should immediately halt the approval and funding of such projects. They contend that state and local governments are constitutionally better positioned to handle grassroots development, while federal legislators should focus strictly on lawmaking and oversight.
Reacting to the controversy, Omoba Awofeso Rasheed Ololade said lawmakers must clearly confine themselves to their constitutional duties to avoid role confusion and accountability gaps.
“It’s simple,” Ololade said. “Government should restrict lawmakers to lawmaking. All grants assigned for any form of constituency projects should be paused. Nigerians deserve clarity on the responsibilities of their representatives so we know who to approach for development needs and who to hold accountable.”
Observers say the debate has once again revived critical questions around the relevance, accountability, and effectiveness of constituency projects within Nigeria’s democratic framework, particularly amid persistent concerns about corruption, duplication of roles, and weak development outcomes.