OrderPaper CEO: ‘MVP hall of fame’ will raise performance of n’assembly members

Oke Epia, executive director of OrderPaper, says the most valuable parliamentarian (MVP) hall of fame initiative is aimed at boosting the productivity of national assembly members.

Speaking in an interview ahead of the ‘Night of Glamour’, an event billed to take place on Sunday in Abuja, Epia said “distinguished and excellence-driven” members of the national assembly will be honoured.

TheCable had reported that the event will recognise 20 of 55 nominated national assembly members, who will be up for possible induction into the MVP hall of fame.

Epia said since the commencement of the initiative in 2020, the criteria for appraising lawmakers have consistently evolved.

“They’re not performance measurements on whims and caprices because we are a parliament-focused organisation,” he added. 

He said that the planning process for the initiative is “top-notch” so as to make sure that when the shortlisted finalists are unveiled on the 21st of May, “there is no room for controversy”.

“Objectivity has been maintained, enhanced, and, of course, put in the forefront. It is important to also stress that we’ve not had any valid contestations to any of the appraisals we released throughout our Performance Appraisals through these years.”

Epia explained that the MVP initiative aims to promote productive partnerships between the citizenry, civil society and the Nigerian parliament.

“All of these are put in the mix as we spotlight and unveil a distinct class of excellent performers in the national assembly,” he said.

“Indeed, that is a core objective of the MVP hall of fame. We have seen that the Nigerian parliament is struggling with the issue of citizen participation as well as accountability and transparency in its processes and outputs.

“So, there is no doubt that this class of MVPs, this class of inductees, from which some are returning to the national assembly, and some are not. But there is no doubt that a benchmark has been set, and there is no doubt that there is a treasure base to look forward to by the 10th national assembly in terms of delivery of service to the people of Nigeria.”