Economy: House Will Not Pay Lip Service To Nigs – Speaker

Amidst worsening security and economic challenges facing the country, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Abbas Tajudeen, has assured Nigerians that the legislative house will not pay lip service to the plight of Nigerians.

Addressing a World Press Conference at the National Assembly in Abuja, the Speaker stated that as the elected Representatives of Nigerians, the lawmakers were fully aware of the hardship being experienced by the citizens and were doing everything possible to address the situation, along with the executive arm of the government.

The Speaker who was accompanied by Principal Officers and Chairmen of Committees of the House, disclosed that the House would propose enacting a legislation to enable a Federal Government response to tackle food shortages, including emergency food, to cushion the hardship being experienced by the citizens.

The Speaker commended the rapid and decisive response of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the issue of food security in the country and particularly referred to the 2023 Supplementary Budget, which provided a N200 billion palliative package, mainly for grains, seeds, agricultural inputs, and equipment for farmers, to buttress his assertion.

“This momentum has been sustained in the 2024 Budget, which has significantly improved budgetary allocations to all critical sectors of the economy, especially defence, healthcare, education, and infrastructure,”

“In 2023, the President declared a state of emergency on food security, focusing on improving both availability and affordability. Some immediate measures approved the release of fertilisers and grains to farmers and households, particularly given the fallouts from the removal of fuel subsidies.

“Others include boosting the national strategic food reserve and introducing a price stabilisation mechanism, especially for critical food items.

“For the first time in the history of the Nigerian legislature, the 10th House set up a Committee on Nutrition and Food Security with a mandate to strengthen the legislative framework for nutrition governance in Nigeria, advocate for the inclusion of nutrition in government priority programmes, and monitor resource allocation to nutrition in the annual budget estimates.”

On Security, the Speaker acknowledged the pain and suffering of every family that has been a victim of brutal crimes and needless violence and restated commitment to deploying robust legislative measures to empower security agencies, ensure justice, and restore peace and order in communities.

According to him, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving the security situation and enhancing the capability of the armed forces.

“On Tuesday this week, I attended the induction ceremony of the T-129 ATAK helicopter and the King Air 360i Aircraft into our esteemed Air Force. The acquisition of these state-of-the-art aircraft clearly indicates the government’s dedication to investing in the security infrastructure of our nation. It reflects a proactive stance in adapting to the dynamic challenges of modern warfare and a commitment to providing our armed forces with the best tools to defend Nigeria and our people.

“These investments, in the face of a global economic downturn and budgetary constraints, attest to the government’s determination to end insecurity in Nigeria.

He recognised and commended the patriotic and courageous efforts of security agencies and among things said the forthcoming Legislative Summit on Security will address issues on Security.

Speaking on the unity and synergy between all arms of government, the speaker said as the country navigates through these tumultuous times, the need for unity and constructive engagement cannot be overstated as the synergy between the three arms of government—executive, legislative, and judiciary—is paramount and must not work in isolation.

“The disposition of the President to collaborate with the National Assembly while respecting our independence is remarkable and laudable. I equally commend key advisers and aides of the President for working tirelessly to address Nigeria’s multiple challenges. I wish to particularly note the contributions of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume; the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; and all other political office holders and aides to the President for their tireless efforts to ensure that the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu delivers on its promise to Nigerians and the 8-point agenda of the President.

The Speaker also spoke on the need for constructive Citizens-Government engagement for the betterment of the nation’s democracy.

According to him, in any vibrant democracy, the relationship between citizens and their government is symbiotic, characterized by active engagement, mutual trust, and shared accountability. Constructive Citizen-government engagement is the cornerstone of democratic governance, facilitating transparency, responsiveness, and inclusive decision-making.

By Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji