Hon. Professor Paul Sunday Nnamchi, who represents the Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has commended the recently concluded House of Representatives Open Week as a landmark initiative designed to promote legislative openness, transparency, and public engagement.
Speaking in Abuja, Professor Nnamchi described the programme as a vital opportunity for the legislature to showcase its achievements and subject its performance to public evaluation.
“It was a moment of introspection, assessing our performance in enacting impactful laws, sponsoring motions, and evaluating our constitutional oversight and intervention roles,” he stated.
The lawmaker highlighted the significance of beginning the Open Week with a focus on agriculture, calling it a strategic move rather than mere coincidence.
He emphasized agriculture’s foundational role in national development, describing it as essential to food sovereignty, sustainable economic growth, and mass employment.
Nnamchi praised the strong participation of youth and various stakeholders, noting that their involvement represented a key moment to reshape perceptions about agriculture.
“It’s time to awaken a new generation to the dignity, innovation, and national importance of agriculture, not just as a livelihood, but as a noble and transformative profession,” he said.
Professor Nnamchi also stressed the importance of leveraging legislative power to drive economic empowerment, advocating for laws that remove financial barriers, improve access to capital, and reframe agriculture as a central pillar of inclusive national prosperity.
Further, he called for greater political inclusion of women, not as a token gesture, but as a democratic necessity.
He also advocated for reserved positions for persons with disabilities, asserting their right to leadership roles in public life.
Additionally, Professor Nnamchi called for a clearer constitutional definition of the role of traditional rulers, positioning them not only as custodians of culture but also as stabilizing forces within the broader governance framework.
“Our traditional institutions can play an integral role in maintaining societal order and promoting community development. Their constitutional relevance must be clearly recognized,” he concluded.
