This document provides guidance to legislators on balancing the expectations of constituents with their role as legislators. It begins with an introduction to the journey from deciding to run for office through winning election and taking office. It then discusses the role of legislators, including lawmaking, representation, and oversight duties. A major part of the role is constituency service, which can be very time-consuming. The document advises playing a balancing act between constituency expectations and legislative responsibilities. It emphasizes that legislators have a representative role and their actions should represent their constituents. Managing expectations, communication, and showing empathy are keys to success. The overall message is that legislators must remember they are representing their constituents' voices in parliament.

1. Prof. Adesoji Adesugba
D B A , M B A , M S C , L L . B , B L . B S C , F C I A r b , F N M I N , F C T I , F R S A
12/06/2019
LEGISLATORS: THROUGH THE LENSES OF
THE CONSTITUENTS AND THE PUBLIC

2. AGENDA
 Introduction
 The Journey So Far
 Role of a Legislature
 The People’s Expectations
 Constituency Relations
 Conclusion

3. INTRODUCTION
 It has been a long journey, from that moment when you made your
decision to contest and represent your people, to the last count of the votes
which propelled you to the other divide and you claimed victory:
 You are welcome to reality; welcome to this side of the divide.
 You are not alone, legislators like you, or parliamentarians as they are
called in other jurisdictions face similar issues with their constituents.

4. The Journey so Far
Decision to
Contest
Campaign
and
Promises
Declaration
of Results
Assumption
of Office

5. Who are you now?

6. Constituency service is time consuming!
The 2012 Global Parliamentary Report surveyed over 600 parliamentarians and suggested that working
on citizens issues is the single most time-consuming aspect of a parliamentarian’s work

7. Is Constituency Service The Most Important Part Of A
Parliamentarians' Role?

8. Playing the balancing act

9. Before the Journey

10. You are welcome to reality

11. When you were on the Other side
 Good governance
 Quality representation
 Constituency engagement
 Dividends of Democracy
 Welfare for the masses

12. Your new Role?
A SPEAKER, AN ADVOCATE, THE VOICE AND MOUTHPIECE
FOR THE PEOPLE.
 Law Making
 Policy Influencing
 Mirror of Public Opinion

13. What the People Want
 Good governance
 Quality representation
 Constituency engagement
 Dividends of Democracy
 Welfare for the masses

14. Duties of a Legislator
 Constitutional Duty
 Representative Duty
 Moral Duty
 Duty to Government
 Duty to Party
 Oversight Duty
 Advocacy Duty

15. Power and Function of Legislator
 Law Making
 Critical Financial and Administrative Control
 Approvals and Confirmation
 Investigation and Inquiry
 Removal from Office/Impeachment
 Regulation

16. Other Responsibility of the Assembly
 Bill Appropriation
 Prudence
 Citizen Protection
 Hansard and Gazette Publication
 Deliberative Function
 Quasi-Judicial Function
 Judicial Function

17. Responsibility to the Constituency
 Accountability
 Consultation
 Advocacy
 Leadership

18. What you need to SUCCEED
 Manage Expectations – Involve your Constituency
 Play a balance act – Reach out
 Meet you Constituency – Show Empathy
 Communicate - Consult
 Do your job – You will be noticed

19. Power of the people!

20. Views from other climates
http://archive.ipu.org/dem-e/gpr/video/index.htm

21. Conclusion
 In thinking of how to balance the
expectations of your constituents and
the public to the realities of performing
your role as a legislature, always
remember that you are primarily
playing a representative role and your
voice in parliament is the voice of your
people and your action is a
representative action.

22. About the Presenter
Prof. Adesoji Adesugba is currently the Provost of the ACCI Business
Entrepreneurship Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre in Abuja.
Adesugba is a professor of business administration at the Roegate College
in Ireland and a visiting professor at the American University of West
Africa in Banjul, Gambia. Having worked for over 35 years in both the
Public and the Private sectors of the Nigerian economy, Prof. Adesugba
combines a deep understanding of both public and the private sector
practice. He is experienced in, corporate governance, organizational
development, investment promotion, economic development,
international commercial arbitration and gemology. Prof. Adesugba’s
academic qualifications include DBA (Summa cum laude), MBA, M.Sc,
LL.B., BL, B.Sc., FCIArb, FCTI, FNMI, and, Dip. ICA.

23. Thank You
Thank You!