Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has asked lawmakers to be bold and make independent choices without being controlled by the President.

Speaking at the Champions of Nigerian Content Awards Dinner in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Jonathan praised past National Assembly members who stood firm and independent, even when it meant going against presidential decisions.

He said the National Assembly showed great courage by overriding presidential vetoes and making sure important bills were passed.

Jonathan received the Nigerian Content Lifetime Achievement Award at the event. He remembered when he was Acting President in 2010 and signed the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Bill into law.

He said this bill, led by Senator Lee Maeba of Rivers State and others, was an example of a strong and active National Assembly.

“When I was Acting President in 2010 and the National Assembly gave me the bill, I signed it quickly and we created a body to monitor it right away,” Jonathan said.

He also mentioned that Senator Lee Maeba and his team deserve praise for their hard work in bringing the bill to life. According to Jonathan, that was a time when the legislature truly lived up to its role.

Jonathan also talked about the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act, passed in 2000. He recalled how the National Assembly passed it despite then-President Olusegun Obasanjo refusing to sign. This, he said, showed real legislative strength and independence.