Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila has urged Nigerians to work together to ensure the success of the country’s upcoming general election.
He made the call while welcoming members back to the chambers back to the House of Representatives for a new legislative year after the Christmas and New Year holidays.
This also comes on a day the House of Representatives stepped down a bill seeking to amend the NYSC Act to make the one year national youth service voluntary.
He said ” Honourable colleagues, as we approach the general elections, there has been a marked increase in incidents of insecurity and vicious attacks on political actors in parts of the country. We must unite to ensure this dangerous trend does not lead to circumstances that threaten the forthcoming elections. The quality of the political conversations in society, particularly in the lead-up to elections, is a determining factor in the electoral outcomes and the quality of governance that will result therefrom. When political discourse seeks to unite the people behind an agenda of shared prosperity, social development, and respect for the humanity of persons, governance will also reflect these priorities”. Gbajabiamila said.
He said that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government’’. With these words, the constitution obligates all of us who swear to serve in government to do everything to protect the lives and property of all citizens and promote their well-being above all else. This obligation is central to the governing contract between the government and the citizenry. As leaders in our various communities and constituencies, we must adopt a politics of accommodation and brotherhood. And we must ensure that no insecurity threatening our country’s peace can be attributed to our actions or utterances. This is our constitutional obligation and a moral duty from which we must not deviate”.
The Speaker also acknowledged with the most incredible gratitude the efforts of the men and women in uniform who, at this moment, are stationed in different parts of the country, taking risks and offering the supreme sacrifice to keep the peace.
“They are the best of us, to whom we owe our gratitude and continued dedication to the offices we hold. Through our efforts to improve the lives of our people, let us make ourselves worthy of the sacrifices these men and women have made and continue to make on our behalf”, he said.
He added that he looked forward to a successful year of measurable achievement in the joint task of nation-building.
A matter of urgent public importance on rising cases of abductions, kicked off the day’s legislative business.
Akwa Ibom lawmaker, Unyime Idem, tasked the Inspector General of Police to secure the release of the abducted PDP chieftain, Enobong Wiliamson, in his state and other victims of kidnapping across the country
Attempts by some lawmakers to kick-start the process of making national youth service a voluntary exercise suffered a set back at plenary.
The bill seeks to provide a cure for what its sponsors call the unrealistic allowances given to youth Corps members as remuneration in line with prevailing economic realities.
But the clause to make the scheme voluntary divided the legislators
The House is also seeking an alternative funding source for the reconstruction of Bida-Zungeru Road in Niger state
The Speaker also acknowledged with the most incredible gratitude the efforts of the men and women in uniform who, at this moment, are stationed in different parts of the country, taking risks and offering the supreme sacrifice to keep the peace.
“They are the best of us, to whom we owe our gratitude and continued dedication to the offices we hold. Through our efforts to improve the lives of our people, let us make ourselves worthy of the sacrifices these men and women have made and continue to make on our behalf”, he said.
He added that he looked forward to a successful year of measurable achievement in the joint task of nation-building.
