• ACF tasks newly-inaugurated NASS members on selflessness
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye and Okwe Obi, Abuja
Governors from the 36 states of the federation under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have congratulated Godswill Akpabio and Tajudeen Abass on their emergence as president of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively.
In a statement, Chairman of the forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, also congratulated Barau Jibrin and Benjamin Kalu on their emergence as deputy Senate president and deputy speaker, respectively.
“The popular choices of the new Senate president and House of Representatives speaker as well as their deputies, underscored the confidence that their colleagues reposed in them and their abilities to work in harmony with the other arms of government for the development of our country.
“We look forward to working with the new leadership on different issues of national interest.
“We wish them God’s guidance and protection as they lead their colleagues in the 10th National Assembly to champion a vibrant legislative agenda that complements the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other sub-national governments across Nigeria,” he said.
Meanwhile, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has tasked newly-inaugurated lawmakers to be selfless in the discharge of their legislative duties.
ACF Chairman, Gabriel Yakubu Aduku, in a statement, yesterday, said democracy should be deepened in the country as Nigerians expect quality bills from the 10th Assembly.
“I congratulate the National Assembly and Nigerians at large on the success of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.
“This is an indication that as a country, regardless of all our imperfections, we are still on the right track consolidating our democracy.
“We may not have gotten to where we ought to be in terms of all indexes for measuring societal development, but definitely, we are not where we used to be in terms of refining the laws that further push us closer towards the democratic traits by which advanced countries are known for,” he said.
According to him, the lawmakers should put the interest of the generality of Nigerians whom they represent instead of engaging in self-serving leadership which would leave Nigeria behind.
“Nigeria has a long way to go in terms of the social and economic wellbeing of its citizenry and much of this responsibility rests largely on the shoulders of the lawmakers.
“The earlier they rise to this onerous task, the better for our people and even for themselves too.
“But if they decide not to empathise with the same people on whose mandate they have been given this legitimate authority to legislate for the entire country, posterity’s appraisal of their work will be inescapable,” he said.
He, therefore, encouraged Nigerians to give maximum support to the present administration for a peaceful and prosperous country.