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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The National Assembly is determined to pass laws that are focused on the needs of the people in order to advance the country, according to House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.
Gbajabiamila gave the assurance in Abuja recently while receiving the 2022 Democracy Heroes Awards Africa conferred on him together with Governor of Niger State, Sani Bello, Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and others.
The Speaker, who was represented by Hon Aliyu Ibrahim, dedicated the award to the 9th House of Representatives which has enacted people-oriented legislations such as the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the Electoral Act, 2022.
In his words: “On behalf of my leader, we say thank you very much, the organisers of this great event for honouring not only him, the right honourable speaker but indeed the House of Representatives.
“We hold this award in high esteem and it will further embolden us to do more. Under our able leadership, there are a lot of legislative landmarks as you know, ranging from the Electoral Act to the passage of the great Petrolueam Industry Act.”
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According to Sani Bello, the governor of Niger State, who received the Democracy Man of the Year award, if local government administration is run properly, there will be less pressure on the state government because local governments are more accessible to the general public.
“I want to advise anyone who will find himself in the position of a governor to please allow democratic principles to guide us on how we run the affairs of government. I thank the organisers for this,” he said.
Former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service Babatunde Fowler, who won the Evergreen Technocrat of the year called on Nigerians to pay their taxes. He said when he was at FIRS he was able to raise both individual and cooperate taxes from 10 million to 20 million.
“When I was there we increased individuals and cooperate taxes from 10m to 20m,” he said.
“It is time for us to join hands with the government and raise more revenue for development,” he added.
Most Outstanding Technocrat of the year was won by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Prof Umar Danbatta.
Prof Danbatta, who was represented by the Director of Public Affairs, NCC, Ruben Mouka said: “Prof Danbatta has asked me to collect this Award on his behalf and dedicate it to the professional staff at the NCC who has made this possible.
“He promised to be more dedicated to his work for the development of the telecommunications sector.”
