By Kennedy Mbele

Senator representing the Federal Territory, FCT, Ireti Kingibe, has completed the first quarter of her tenure. In this interview, she highlights her achievements and calls for support. Excerpts: It’s now more than a year since you got elected to represent the FCT.

How has it been?

It has been a learning process. It has also not been exactly easy. I am a Senator who came to work hard for the people. Incidentally, the system is not geared towards the real needs of the people. The system is broken. Many of our leaders do not follow the rule of law; they are autocratic, forgetting that we are in a democracy where the needs and wishes of the people are paramount. So, that has been part of the challenges. In spite of all that, we have tried to at least, bring many government and constituency projects into FCT.

We have found out that some agencies are quite corrupt and that in spite of the fact that constituency projects are meant for the people, people hijack them and do whatever they like without recourse to the senator or the people’s needs. Even at that, we are still able to get a lot of our constituency projects done.

These include the construction of a road in Karu, in Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, the installation of 105 solar lights in five communities in Mpape, the installation no fewer than 64 street lights in Karimajiji, Jikwoyi and Kwali. Presently, we are building a 50-bed hospital in Dobi, Gwagwalada. We organised a National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, training for constituents and are currently training 250 people, who would receive N250,000 each at the end of the exercise and shall be empowered further with basic working tools such as power-generating sets, sewing machines, clippers among others in accordance with the skills they acquired. We have also empowered about 7,000 in the FCT and have facilitated the employment of no fewer than 6,500 others.

A few months ago, we sponsored the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board, JAMB, registration for 2000 students. Between December 2023 and January this year, we distributed 7,500 bags of rice of 5kg each, to constituents for the yuletide season. Presently, we are liaising with the Industrial Training Fund, ITF, to train 17,000 people in various skills in two batches. We have imported a lot of medical equipment which will be delivered to public health centres across the FCT for free distribution very soon. We have just started distributing over 1, 500 bags of fertilizers, 50kg each to FCT farmers.

So, basically, we try to provide little things that would benefit residents. But, as you know, I am only a legislator, the person in charge of the executive and budget allocations’ is the Minister of FCT. Because I am the highest elected legislator here, everything that bothers the people such as water, insecurity, electricity supply are brought to my attention. Ordinarily, senators are not in charge of security, but we should be able to work in synergy to ensure that the people’s needs are met.

How would you describe the relationship between the 10th National Assembly and the executive?

Our relationship is more than cordial.

As Chairperson of Senate Committee on Women Affairs, what are those things that should be expected from you?

As a chairperson, I am meant to oversee agencies in charge of women. Therefore, I am trying to see if I can bring legislation that would enhance inclusion of more women in every aspect of life. That is the first major thing I hope to bring to the table for Nigerian women because that will open the door for other good things to come in.

What are some of your earlier perceptions about the Upper House that turned out to be wrong?

Honestly, when you are outside looking inside, what you will see would be totally different from what you see when you are inside. I think I have to leave it at that because, like I said, it’s a learning process. Unique position Well, I can’t speak for other legislators but for myself. Incidentally, I think my position is somehow unique, because there is only one senator in the FCT, whereas other places of FCT size have three. Abuja, as we may all know, is the largest growing city in Africa. So, because I am the only senator, every complaint comes to my table. So, we are really busy.

I also write bills and motions that would benefit the people of FCT and the country, generally. I also attend relevant conventions both locally and internationally. Again, I also have the United Nations Organisation, UNO, African Parliament, the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, meetings to attend, when necessary.

There is so much to do. So, it is a very high intensity job.

Capacity and motivation

I do what I have to do. Don’t forget that many legislators who are older than I am are performing well too. What really matters is the capacity and motivation, not age, tribe or religion. So, there is no magic. I know that I am there to work for the people and not to play or relax.

Part-time legislation

I agree completely with part time legislation because that would reduce the burden on the people and on the country, too. At this point, in our lives and that of our country, we are struggling and as such, any area we can cut costs should be explored.

Can you share with us some of the things that politicians elected on the platform of the Labour Party, LP, are doing differently?

One thing we do differently is that we are more focused on the people’s needs than other legislators. However, as a political party, we have our own challenges, just like other political parties. Nigerian leaders cannot be different from Nigerians. When people change their attitude or orientation, they would also demand for better attitudes from their leaders. LP is new and has a lot of potential to provide the right solutions to the people’s problems.

However, we are yet to perform to our potential. Crisis in LP There is always hope, but even those of us in the party are a bit confused about some of the things happening there. It is our party, we hope to fix it properly to become greater than it was in 2023.

Gender-Based-Violence

In the fight against GBV, we still have a long way to go in Nigeria, although we are doing our best. Like every other thing in the country, every aspect of development, save the creative Industry, still has a long way to go. GBV is not different.

However, I am happy that our women are becoming more aware of the ugly trend and are converging more to demand justice. Women are now demanding their rights. As a result, I am sure that things will eventually improve.

Message for residents of FCT

I came to my constituents with a lot of goodwill and love. Most of the things I have done since I assumed office as their senator have all been about the people – their needs and rights.

But, like everything else, as the people demand the best from their leaders, they also have to support their leaders. I was not born a senator, I am learning to be one. I also understand that the people have been disappointed by past leaders and, as such, very suspicious and unwilling to give anybody the benefit of the doubt.

But, I would like to think that since I became a senator, I have done a lot, more than some senators did in their entire tenure. I would like to let my constituents understand that apart from being the only senator representing them, the National Assembly is situated in my constituency.

My colleagues’ constituents have access to them only when they go back to their constituencies. Very few constituents come to the National Assembly looking for them. Mine have access to me all the time. My office and home are only a step away. So, I get inundated more than any other senator.

Recently, I received no fewer than 50 visitors in one day. I am sure other senators do not do so because, where would 50 constituents come from to see them, unless they are specially arranged? So, those are some of the issues.

Everybody in the FCT wants to speak to the senator. There are some people requesting support for their families’ welfare, because the senator who they voted for is right there at the corner.

Now, the truth of the matter is that no legislator has enough resources to solve all the problems of his or her constituents. On our part, we have been doing our best and we will continue to do more