Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, has reaffirmed the urgent need for deepened legislative capacity, constitutional reform, and stronger public trust in government during a keynote address at the Rt. Hon. Hilary Bisong Colloquium held in Calabar.
The event, themed “Lawmaking and Constitutional Democracy: The Nigerian Experience,” was organized to mark the ten-year anniversary of Rt. Hon. Hilary Ekpang Bisong’s service as a legislator and current Chief Whip of the Cross River State House of Assembly. The colloquium brought together lawmakers, academics, civil society leaders, and political stakeholders to engage in a national dialogue on the role of legislation in strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
In his address, Speaker Ayambem emphasized that lawmaking remains the lifeblood of any democracy, noting that it transforms constitutional principles into actionable realities for citizens.
“Lawmaking is the heartbeat of any democracy,” he declared. “It gives life to the constitution by transforming abstract rights and principles into enforceable policies and laws.”
While applauding Nigeria’s steady democratic progress since 1999, the Speaker highlighted persistent challenges confronting legislative bodies across the country. These include weak institutional capacity, executive interference, low public trust, and the slow pace of constitutional amendments.
“True democracy thrives when each arm of government operates independently yet cooperatively,” Ayambem noted. “We must invest in legislative capacity, protect institutional autonomy, and engage our citizens more meaningfully.”
The Speaker used the platform to spotlight the work of the Cross River State House of Assembly under his leadership, pointing to a people-oriented legislative agenda focused on education, healthcare, infrastructure, youth empowerment, and security. He described the 10th Assembly as a responsive body shaped by community feedback and committed to development-driven governance.
