*Committee Moves From Awareness To Evidence Based Data Gathering
The Legislative Performance Assessment Committee of the Orluzurumee Youth Assembly (OYA) wishes to formally inform Ndi Orlu and the general public that the Committee has successfully concluded the first phase of its assignment which focused on public sensitization, media awareness and official communication with elected lawmakers representing the Orlu Senatorial Zone, saying the result of finding will be tair to legislators.
This is contained in a release signed by the Chairman of the Legislative Performance Assessment Committee Orluzurumee Youth Assembly, Comr. Nnamdi Achi, which was made available to the media on Thursday,
“Following weeks of public engagement and formal correspondence dispatched to the offices of the Senator representing Orlu Zone, Honourable Members of the House of Representatives and Members of the Imo State House of Assembly, the Committee notes with concern that some public office holders are yet to officially respond to requests for their legislative and constituency performance records.
“The Committee wishes to remind all elected representatives that accountability is not optional in a democratic society. Public office is not a private enterprise, but a trust given by the people and the people reserve the right to ask questions concerning representation, projects and legislative performance.
“As a result, the Committee is now entering the second phase of its assignment — FIELD OPERATIONS AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENTS.
“This phase will involve: Community-to-community assessments. Constituency project inspections and verification. Stakeholder consultations. Town hall interactions.
“Engagements with youth groups, traditional rulers, women leaders, market associations, civil society organizations, religious bodies and community development unions across Orlu Zone.
“The Committee shall also begin independent verification of projects and empowerment programs allegedly facilitated by lawmakers, as Ndi Orlu can no longer rely solely on media propaganda, political billboards, social media publicity, or election-season promises as indicators of performance.
“This assessment will be based on facts, evidence, visibility, accessibility and measurable impact on the lives of the people”, he said.
The Committee emphasized that silence from public office holders will not stop the process, adding that the assessment exercise will continue with or without official submissions, using available public records, community evidence, stakeholder testimonies and independent findings gathered from the field.
“The people of Orlu Zone deserve to know who is speaking for them. Who is working for them. Who is visible in their communities. And who only appears during election periods.
“The Committee therefore calls on Ndi Orlu to prepare for active participation in this historic civic accountability exercise by providing credible information, project locations, community feedback and documented evidence concerning the performance or non-performance of their representatives.
“This is not a battle against individuals or political parties. It is a democratic movement for transparency, responsive leadership and people-oriented governance.
“The era where elected representatives operate without scrutiny is gradually coming to an end.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Legislative Performance Assessment Committee remains committed to fairness, objectivity and professionalism. Lawmakers still have the opportunity to cooperate with the Committee by officially submitting their scorecards and records of service to the people.
“At the conclusion of the exercise, a comprehensive Legislative Performance Report and Public Scorecard will be released to Ndi Orlu and the wider public.
“History will remember those who represented the people with integrity and measurable impact”, the Chairman stressed.
