From the Senator
The work of a legislator is essentially law making but it also imports other aspects like oversight, confirmations, and advocacy. While legislating, oversight and confirmations are the formal parts of the legislative duty advocacy, on the other hand is a choice. It is a choice that is deliberately made (or not made) by a particular legislator. An issue or issues, project or projects, will be the subject of the advocacy. The subject of the advocacy becomes the passion and definition of the legislator. It characterizes him or her.
Today, twenty nine bills, including the revolutionary Freedom of Information Bill, now an Act of the National Assembly, stand to my credit and more than ten topical motions, ranging from the issues of Bakassi to the Nigerian Sailors taken hostage by Somali pirates off the coast of Somalia. I have been active in plenary and committees, and still meet the demands of my office as Senate Leader while at the same time maintaining presence in my Cross River Central Senatorial District. I have led Nigeria’s delegations to the Association of Senates, Shooras and Equivalent Councils in Africa and the Arab World (ASSECAA) and the Pan African Parliament which sits in Midland, South Africa. I have also on occasions acted as Presidential envoy and led Nigeria’s international campaigns for positions in Regional parliamentary bodies.
I have chosen human capacity building, health, and infrastructure as my passions in addition to a lifelong commitment to social justice, equity and democracy. My commitment to the ideals of democracy, the freedoms guaranteed by democracy is total, the freedoms of speech, choice, association etc, even the freedom to dissent. Democracy, like religion, is easy to mouth but difficult to practice. It is easier to recite biblical passages than to be our neighbour’s keeper just like it is easier for us to profess our democratic credentials and yet resist competition and accommodation of differing opinions. Democracy is an attitude, a mind-set, and an endless journey. Accountability is a key component of democracy. Those in the public sphere must account to the people, this is a duty and not an option for the privilege of non-accountability is the privilege of only God, madmen and children.
Between the 22nd and 26th of April, 2014 I inspected forty one projects ranging from water schemes, to school blocks, erosion control works to ICT and health facilities, to dams, to African Development Bank and World Bank road projects; all outcomes of my advocacy. This is in addition to my scholarship scheme which currently has over 560 beneficiaries, my free computer programme with over 6,000 graduands, my small and medium business initiative with 121 potential beneficiaries currently undergoing entrepreneurship training at the Enterprise Development Centre in Calabar. I do not include interventions to individuals as advocacy.
The special edition April – June 2014 of The Report is part statement of account of my stewardship. It is part because only part of the outcomes of my advocacy were inspected, and many more including what is left of the Ikom -Ogoja-Okuku-Mfom Junction Road, are in the pipeline. The Calabar-Oban-Nsan Okoroba-Ajassor Road with a bridge, the second on the Cross River have been procured. For me, the ultimate is a Federal tertiary institution in my constituency and this will be a reality. The excitement of my constituents during my tour of my projects is evidence of their appreciation and expectation. I am encouraged to exert myself even more in their service.
Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba OFR, CON, SAN,
Senate Leader
About VIctor
Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba served as Director, Cross River Basin Development Authority [1981-1983), Commissioner for Works & Transport, Cross River State 1984 – 1986,
