Gambia CPA Conference: Nasarawa Speaker advocates for checks and balances among African parliaments

Dr. Danladi Jatau, Speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has called on African Parliaments to strengthen their roles and uphold constitutional responsibilities for effective democracy and good governance in Africa.

He made this statement at the conclusion of the 54th Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) for the African region held in the Republic of Gambia in August 2025.

The conference, attended by over 300 parliamentarians from 19 Commonwealth African countries, had the theme “Strengthening Democratic Governance and Resilience in Africa: Tackling Conflicts, Economic Shocks and Climate Risks.”

Speaker Jatau’s call aligns with the conference’s focus on enhancing parliamentary roles in addressing global and continental challenges through legislation and oversight.

The event underscored the significant role of legislators in promoting democratic governance and tasked participants with leveraging insights from the conference for better governance practices in their home countries.

The President of the Republic of Gambia, Adama Barrow, opened the conference, emphasizing the importance of the parliamentarians’ work across the continent.

Speaker Jatau emphasized that holding regional conferences without implemention or stepping down the rudiments of the summits by participating countries on returning home will continue to defeat the conference aimes and objectives.

“We are just talking, there is no supervision even within us in the African countries and we will not get it right” He said.

The Nasarawa State Number Three Citizen who spoke extensively on the role of legislators in democratic set up said African lawmakers need to do more in areas of supervisions, oversights and ensure that the right things are done at all times to strengthening the system for development to thrive.

He reassured of his commitment to ensure that the knowledge gained at Gambia Conference is step down in Nasarawa State so that the State will benefits from its impact towards effective check and balance, oversights and legislation.

Speaker Jatau and members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly participated actively in the conference, emphasizing the need for parliaments to be proactive and responsible in driving democratic practices and good governance in Africa.