TRIANGULAR RELATIONS: A CATALYST FOR EFFECTIVE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

TRIANGULAR RELATIONS: A CATALYST FOR EFFECTIVE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

1. TRIANGULAR RELATIONS: A CATALYST FOR EFFECTIVE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS By Nasir Usman Biyabiki , ANIPR Public Relations Officer, Zamfara State House of Assembly

2. KEYWORDS:

3. PUBLIC RELATIONS Public Relations in a simple term refers to deliberate, planned and sustained efforts to establish and maintain mutual understanding between an organization and its public.

4. PUBLIC RELATIONS Contd. This has to do with a wide range of activities that includes research, planning, implementation and evaluation. It can also be seen as a management practice that creates and maintain the image of an organization in the eyes of the organization’s public/clients/audience or in the case of a legislature, the constituents.

5. PUBLIC RELATIONS Contd. Therefore Public Relations is essentially to influence and shape public opinion. The power of Public opinion has a global recognition and impact. Community-based industries and public institutions sometimes suffered from negative and unfavorable local opinions due to inadequate Public Relations Services and in our context is to understand fully the functions of legislature including the responsibilities of both the lawmakers and their constituents in the development process.

6. DUTIES OF PR UNIT IN THE LEGISLATURE The PR Unit of the Legislature is saddled with the responsibility of creating and maintaining the image of the organization through the use of media and other mediums of communication by: Issuing a press statement on key activities; Organizing a periodic press conference; Coordinating all media activities; Ensure a mutual working relationship with media organizations; Organize exclusive interviews with the leadership of the House; Report committees activities; Liaise with other NGOs that work within the space of legislature; Serve as a channel of communication between the House and Partners; and Ensure a mutual working relationship with other external forces for effective legislation among others.

7. TRIANGULAR RELATIONS Triangular Relations in this context refers to mutual relations that promote working together by the gov’t (ZMHA ), media, and civil society organizations where each plays a particular/important role towards attaining a desired goal.

8. KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN LEGISLATIVE PROCESS The legislature; The Legislative Staff; The Executive; The Judiciary; CSOs/NGOs/CBOs/FBOs; Religious and Traditional Leaders; General Public; Political Parties;

9. 1. THE LEGISLATURE The legislature derives its powers from section 4 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) the legislature is vested with power to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of the federation. It is also vested with investigatory powers, financial regulation, confirmation and impeachment etc.

10. FUNCTIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE Lawmaking, Representation Oversight, Deliberative function, Approval of Annual Budget, Confirmation of Government Nominees, Impeachment, Ratification of Treaties etc .

11. 2. MEDIA Media can be defined as a channel through which messages, ideas, opinions, information, beliefs knowledge etc can be shared to large and heterogeneous audience, using either conventional (Print or Electronic) or modern medium.

12. MEDIA CONTD. Media create awareness and hold Government to be responsible to the demands of people and report the public needs to the government through its enlightenment, education and entertainment functions.

13. 3. CSOs/NGOS Civil Society or Non-governmental Organizations refers to non-profit and private organizations that operate outside government control established by a group of individuals with common interests and ideology pursuing a particular objective. The two main categories of NGOs are: Operational which focuses on the design and implementation of development projects and Advocacy NGOs that defend or promote a specific course and seek to influence public policy and some NGOs may fall under both categories.

14. CSOs/NGOS CONTd. NGOs advocates for the promotion of human right, health, social inclusion, well-being of the citizens, promote better living conditions, lobby for effective legislation, provide input, and represent the public in public hearing and budget process and sometimes the INGOs/Partners support government at all levels in policy formulation and legislations in both technical and financial.

15. KEY FUNCTIONS AND ROLES OF MEDIA & CSOs IN LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

16. THANK YOU for Listening. QUESTIONS?