By Amos Tauna
Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura, has observed that it is time for Nigerian leaders, especially the law makers to reboot the country.
The Senator noted that majority of Nigerians that served as leaders were not entirely satisfied with their performance, hence the need to reboot the nation.
Senator Kaura who stated this on Friday in Kaduna, northern Nigeria while delivering a keynote address at the 2017 Retreat for Legislators, organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, lamented that, Legislatures prior after independence were rarely accused of corruption whether rightly or wrongly.
He said it was in recognition of that, that the 8th National Assembly members had worked hard to uphold moral rectitude in line with the oath they took and in line with ‘the change begins with me’ mantra of the current administration.
The Senator assured that the 8th Senate would ensure that the issue of corruption will continue to be in the front burner of national discourse.
According to him, Nigeria’s democratic status would have probably collapsed and fallen like a pack of ill-arranged cards, if not for the timely intervention of the legislative arm.
“The 8th National Assembly has been engaged in improving governance, improving business and improving the livelihood of Nigerians. It is our belief that doing so will in the long run improve the economy and ultimately guarantee a better life for our people through law making, its oversight functions, which has led to blocking of leakages in the purse of the Federal Government.
“Before independence and through to the post-independence era, legislatures in Nigeria were rarely accused of corruption, rightly or wrongly. Indeed, corruption or any type of vices was seen as an abomination and anathema within the political circle.
“The challenges confronting the legislature are not insurmountable. There must be a determined resolve on our side to face these challenges squarely, and ensure that the ethics of the parliament are complied with.
“We are also determined to meet the expectations of the citizens from us in the performance of our constitutional responsibilities,” he observed.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Acting Director General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Mr. Jonathan Juma, said an effective legislative institution that was responsive to public needs and actively involved in public policy process is imperative to advancing democracy in Nigeria.
He explained that the retreat was designed to enhance the basic knowledge and skills of the participants for more effective interaction with the executive, particularly in the area of policy making.
The retreat which had in attendance members of the House of Representatives Committee on Governmental Affairs and National executive members of Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC.
