Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has called for more collaboration between the country’s executive and the legislature in order to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years.
Buhari spoke at the Joint Executive-Legislative Leadership Retreat and said the collaboration enjoyed from the leadership of the National Assembly had made it easier for the government to set and realize developmental goals, and respond to changes in the economy faster, like in the case of the Ccoronavirus pandemic that necessitated the review of the 2020 budget.
Many of the misgivings on government’s resolutions and laws have been attributed to a lack of understanding of the government’s intentions and the process of law-making.
But Buhari appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the government, advising that whenever there’s any legislation they have misgivings about, “they should engage the process for such laws in line with democratic processes.
According to the president, some of the gains recorded from working together also include accelerated passage of the 2020 Budget and its review in response to the #coronavirus pandemic, timely confirmation of nominees, and passage of critical legislation by the National Assembly.
President Buhari told the legislators that the Federal Executive Council had already streamlined its priorities to nine areas of development, and ministers had been mandated to align their targets with the bigger picture of making life better for all Nigerians, urging the legislature to align its priorities as well.
“While all members of the Federal Executive Council have been given clear mandates and yearly targets towards achieving the set indicators and goals, I recognize the critical role of the National Assembly in helping to deliver this agenda and the strategic goals set by this government.
“We cannot do this alone without your support and collaboration. I am equally aware that both the Senate and the House of Representatives have adopted the new legislative agenda for the current Assembly.
“The urgent need for aligning the 9-Point priority agenda and the legislative agenda of both the Senate and the House of Representatives cannot be over-emphasized. I will therefore suggest that a technical committee be established after this retreat to harmonize these critical and strategic documents to help improve synergy and coordination,’’ the Nigerian President said.
Abel Ejikeme