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Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, says the 9th National Assembly is
irrevocably committed to protecting the interests of the people through
diligent discharge of its legislative duties.
He said the people of Surulere
Federal Constituency-1 did not elect him to go and fight the executive.
The Speaker said this on Sunday in Lagos while speaking at the
”Gbaja 2019 End of the Year Grassroots Empowerment Programme”.
Gbajabiamila said criticism that the 9th Assembly was a rubber
stamp to the executive was not fair, saying the fact that the legislature was
on the same page with the executive on issues of national interests did not
make it a rubber stamp.
The Speaker added that he, like his colleagues in the Senate,
was not elected to fight the executive and that lawmakers would disagree with
the executive if there was the need to do so.
”Naysayers, critics and people from other parties have said the
9th National Assembly is a rubber stamp to the executive.
”You know my reply when they say that to you? Tell them that you
would rather have a rubber stamp National Assembly that will bring progress
than the one that is fighting the executive without progress.
”This is because when two elephants fight, the grass suffers.
This is not a rubber stamp National Assembly; this is a National Assembly that
represents the people and is committed to their interests.
”The people of Surulere Federal Constituency-1 did not elect me
to go and be fighting the executive; Is that what you asked me to go and do?
”Rather, you asked me to engage and collaborate with other
stakeholders to deliver democratic dividends, part of which we are having
today.
”This is a new dispensation where there will be checks and
balances, there will be separation of powers, we will disagree with the
executive when there is need to do so and agree with them if there is need.
.
”But our watchword will be the interest of the people. That is the oath which I
and my colleagues swore to,” he said.
Gbajabiamila said the return of the country’s budget cycle to
January to December was one of the greatest democratic achievements in the last
20 years.
He said the new cycle was a good development for progress as it
would enhance planning and implementation of budget.
Gbajabiamila argued that late passage and signing of the budget
was a major impediment to its proper implementation, saying that Nigerians
should expect a paradigm shift from the new cycle.
‘Let me explain the January to December budget cycle better. The
constitution says the budget cycle shall be from January to December or another
time as prescribed by the National Assembly.
”But what the constitution intended is that January to December
is the life span of the budget, and the reason for that is so that government
can plan, investors can plan and there is enough time to execute what has been
budgeted.
”We have had difficulty in implementation in the last 20 years
like 40 per cent, 30 per cent, because of delay in passing and signing the
budget.
”Investors lacked confidence, they could not plan because there
is uncertainty because the constitution has been violated.
”So in the past 20 years, this is the first time we are having
the January to December budget cycle and it took the emergence of the 9th
Assembly to fulfil that constitutional provision,” he said.
On the border closure, Gbajabiamila said the measure was already
yielding positive results by greatly boosting the capacity of rice farmers and
had increased of local agricultural produce, especially rice.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 23 saloon cars, 90
lap tops, 30 power generators and 301 sewing machines were given to
beneficiaries at the programme in his Surulere-1 Federal Constituency.
The Speaker also gave between N100,000 and N200,000 grant each
to 500 business owners as well as 30 photocopiers and 309 home solar systems to
other beneficiaries at the programme.
The Speaker said he organised the empowerment programme to
impact positively on the lives of his constituents by supporting businesses and
easing transportation problems.
He said other projects being undertaken in the constituency
included reconstruction of Mercy Eneli Street, Chief Bereola Street and Esther
Dada-Adeniji Link road to Ishaga to make living easier for the people.
Gbajabiamila urged the beneficiaries of the latest empowerment
programme to use the items for the purpose of empowering themselves.
In his remarks, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, Chairman of All
Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, commended the Speaker for the
empowerment, saying the party and the people were proud of him.
He also commended his constituents for their support for the
Speaker, saying that the empowerment items were the dividends of their support.
Balogun said Gbajabiamila had done well as the Speaker so far
with his actions and ideas.
Also speaking, a member of the state House of Assembly, Mr.
Desmond Elliot, also commended Gbajabiamila for the programme, saying Surulere
residents were better for it.
He said the Speaker had inspired him and other political leaders
in the state to always connect with the people.(NAN) Prestara Nexor
