A legal practitioner, Mr Emmanuel Anyaegbulam, has called on the National Assembly to pass the National Assembly Budget and Research Office Bill as a way of strengthening the budget passing process of the country.

According to Mr Anyaegbulam, most of the laws passed by the National Assembly have shortcomings because of inadequate research work.

“It is disheartening that the National Assembly Budget and Research Office Bill is still waiting. We need to strengthen that.

“Then the National Assembly has not been able to present itself very well, looking at the Senate and House of Representatives.

“That National Assembly Budget and Research Office, National Assembly Service Commission, and the National Assembly Legislative Studies are key research areas.

“If you look at the American setting, you will see the Library of Congress, Congressional Budget Office, and then the research centre of the congress are all equipped and funded very well.

“We have to take a holistic look at the National Assembly and put emphasis on research. Most of our laws have shortcomings because we have not really focused on research,” the lawyer said.

He also urged the lawmakers to be more transparent and accountable to the people.

“The National Assembly has to also make itself accountable by having a transparent budget.

“120 billion (or) 150 billion, does not make any sense. You need to have a breakdown,” he added.