Commendations have continued to pour in for OrderPaper Nigeria over the release of its expository work on the significance and impact of the transition of political actors from the legislature to the executive (FLEX) on democracy and public service delivery in the country.
Former minister of education and founder of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG), Dr. Obiageli ‘Oby’ Ezekwesili, issued a signed statement of commendation to OrderPaper, describing the work as a timely and insightful contribution to a unique facet of leadership recruitment.
She noted that “as Nigeria strives for effective governance and democratic consolidation, it is imperative to understand how the recycling of politicians between these branches of government influences and impacts decision-making processes, policy formulation, and overall governance effectiveness.
“OrderPaper’s FLEX publication offers a comprehensive analysis that gives critical stakeholders in the democratic project detailed insights into the growing trend of incumbent and past legislators assuming executive roles. The work underscores the importance of scrutinising such practice and its real and perceived outcomes on governance and democracy in our dear country.”
According to her, “with the growing interest of citizens in governance, FLEX serves as a strident call to action for enhanced performance tracking of recycled politicians and, ultimately, the governments that they serve. Its findings have direct implications for our democratic system, urging us to be more vigilant in our political processes.”
While commending OrderPaper for its “commitment to promoting informed discourse on matters of national importance while executing its mandate to bridge the gap between the people and parliament,” Dr. Ezekwesili said emphatically: “I have no doubt that FLEX significantly contributes to a deeper understanding of Nigeria’s political landscape, shedding light on crucial aspects of our governance. It underscores the importance of democratic accountability and transparency in our leadership recruitment processes, making it an invaluable resource for policymakers, academics, and the general public.”
In a similar vein, celebrated veteran journalist and versatile media entrepreneur and innovator, Dapo Olorunyomi, highlighted the role of FLEX in supporting democratic accountability in both the legislative and executive arms of government. He described the work as excellent and a giant step in the creation of knowledge “to support democratic accountability. This is something that can create a more accountable executive branch if the important work of percolating the legislative branch of the ethos of democratic accountability endures and succeeds.”
On his part, Dr. Chido Onumah, Coordinator of the African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), stated that the publication is uniquely and timely in emphasising the need for a national dialogue on the implications of the transition of politicians between the two branches of government. .
In his statement, Professor Adebayo Olukoshi, governance expert and distinguished professor at the Wits School of Governance, Wits University, South Africa, commended OrderPaper’s dedication to advancing democratic governance through informed analysis, noting that the work “can be used as a tracking tool for performance and accountability in governance.”
FLEX is OrderPaper’s latest Quarterly Policy Review (QPR) which examines the dynamics of Nigeria’s leadership recruitment pipeline and implications for governance. The work underscores that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has engaged the FLEX phenomenon in an unprecedented fashion by appointing the largest number of ex-legislators into his government in the history of civilian rule in Nigeria. This practice, involving the President and Vice President as former legislators, presents a unique opportunity for thorough study and scrutiny of the administration and potentially offers evidence-based recommendations for future governance frameworks.
Executive Director of OrderPaper, Oke Epia, while expressing gratitude for the commendations and engagement from such notable personalities and the general public, stated that “OrderPaper remains committed to promoting informed discourse on matters of national importance and bridging the gap between the people and parliament. We believe that FLEX significantly contributes to a deeper understanding of Nigeria’s political dynamics and the importance of democratic accountability in leadership recruitment processes.”He reiterated earliercalls on relevant stakeholders to partner with OrderPaper towards the actualisation of a responsive, accountable and transparent governance system in Nigeria.
