The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has
\nsaid that the Green Chamber would focus its attention on bills and
\nmotions that would improve the ease of doing business and unlock
\neconomic potential.<\/p>\n
Gbajabiamila, in an address to welcome his colleagues from the Christmas
\nand New Year break during the resumption of plenary on Wednesday, said
\nthe House would make frantic efforts to surpass its achievements of last
\nyear.<\/p>\n
He said though the Legislature does not have the control of the various
\nsecurity agencies, it would ensure the use of its appropriation powers
\nto hold those responsible accountable as well as continue to collaborate
\nwith the Executive arm to improve the security situation in the country.<\/p>\n
“In the 2021 legislative year, we will focus the attention of the House
\nof Representatives on bills and motions that improve ease of doing
\nbusiness and unlock economic potential by stripping away restrictive
\nregulation and ending predatory regulatory practices that deprive our
\nyoung people the opportunity to conquer new frontiers.<\/p>\n
“In this age of technology and innovation, of daring and enterprise, we
\ncannot risk implementing policies that handicap our ability as a nation
\nto participate in new markets and profit from emerging industries,” he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He added that “the true test of government is in our ability to protect
\nthe most vulnerable amongst us. We cannot separate the goal of economic
\nprosperity from the ambition to ensure that all our people live in a
\njust society free from abuse of power and protected by a justice system
\nbuilt on fairness and the rule of law.<\/p>\n
“Therefore, we will shortly begin considering Bills to amend the
\nAdministration of Criminal Justice Act. We will follow up with a
\nlong-overdue review of the Trafficking In Persons (Prohibition)
\nEnforcement And Administration Act and other legislation that seek to
\ndeliver a justice system that works for all.”<\/p>\n
He said the constitution vests the responsibility of security and
\nwelfare of the people on all those that have sworn to serve in
\ngovernment, saying “Every time a citizen going about their business is
\nkilled or kidnapped, loses their property or livelihood, we have failed
\nin our obligation.<\/p>\n
“From the abundance of these failures has emerged a culture of self-help
\nin matters of internal security that portends grave danger for our
\nnation’s continued existence.”<\/p>\n
Thus, Gbajabiamila called on Nigerians from all walks of life to put all
\nthe differences that exist among them aside and unite to face the
\nchallenges that confront the country.<\/p>\n
“If ever there was a time for us to put aside all other considerations,
\nespecially the petty concerns of partisanship and politics, it is now.<\/p>\n
“If ever there was a time to set aside our differences of tribe and
\nreligion to focus on a concerted effort to defeat the challenges of
\ninsurgency and banditry, communal violence, and the violent struggle
\nover land, that time is now.<\/p>\n
“The forces that threaten our lives and property, our sovereignty and
\nnationhood, do not make any exceptions based on the God we pray to or
\nthe language of our native tongue.”<\/p>\n
Noting that the House commenced the new year with a renewed commitment
\nto legislative action that drives the course of progress and brings the
\nHouse closer to achieving the highest aspirations it holds for the
\nnation, Gbajabiamila said “we remain dedicated to the lofty, yet clear
\nambitions we articulated in our Legislative Agenda when we resumed in
\nthe 9th Assembly.”<\/p>\n
He said despite the challenges the House faced last year, it was able to
\npass meaningful and potentially transformative legislation such as the
\nNigerian Police Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, the Electric Power
\nSector Reform Act (Amendment) Bill, Physically-Challenged (Empowerment)
\nBill, Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act
\n(Amendment) Bill, and the Companies and Allied Matters Act, amongst many
\nothers.<\/p>\n
In view of current realities, Gbajabiamila craved the indulgence of his
\ncolleagues to be careful with coming up with bills that seek to
\nestablish new institutions.<\/p>\n
“At a time of reduced revenue, with preexisting and worsening
\ninfrastructure deficits requiring significant investments, we cannot
\nafford to keep establishing more institutions that impose a permanent
\nliability on government income. I am not unmindful of the realities that
\noften necessitate such legislation, yet we cannot ignore the facts that
\nlie before us.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that the Green Chamber would focus its attention on bills and motions that would improve the ease of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":67653,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-78338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-other-news"],"yoast_head":"\n