President Muhammadu Buhari has reflected on the relationship between the executive and the outgoing 8th national assembly and concluded that it was not the best.
The president stated this when he hosted the senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers of the national assembly to breaking of the Ramadan fast at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday evening.
Presidential spokesman, Mr. Garba Shehu, in a statement quoted Buhari as saying: “Relations between the executive and the legislature were not the best in the 8th national assembly. I sincerely hope each one of us will do his utmost to ensure there is a better working relationship between these two arms of government in the 9th assembly so that we can serve the people better.”
He stressed that the principal task of the national assembly “is to cooperate with the executive so that together we can fashion policies that will lift our people out of poverty and out of illiteracy.
“I appeal to the distinguished senators and honourable members to subordinate all personal interests and ambitions to the imperative of working for the common good of our people,” he added.
The president congratulated the members-elect on their success in winning their constituency seats and opined that “this is a great burden and a great responsibility placed on you by your people.
“Our citizens are faced with challenges of poverty. Your principal task is to cooperate with the Executive so that together we can fashion policies that will lift our people out of poverty and out of illiteracy.
“I appeal to the distinguished senators and honourable members to subordinate all personal interests and ambitions to the imperative of working for the common good of our people,” he added.
He assured the lawmakers that his doors remained open “to all of you who have genuine concerns or advice to improve the quality of governance and service delivery to our people.”
Responding, Saraki assured that the national assembly would maintain focus on national interest at all times.
Beside Saraki and Dogara, others who were at the event were the deputy senate president, Mr. Ike Ekweremadu, deputy speaker, Mr. Yusuf Lasun, senate leader, Mr. Ahmad Lawan and house leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila.
Also in attendance were the deputy senate leader, Mr. Bala Ibn Na’Allah, deputy house leader, Mr. Ahmed Idris Wase, house chief whip, Mr. Alhassan Doguwa, house minority whip, Mr. Yakubu Barde, house deputy minority whip, Ms. Binta Bello, as well as the chief of staff to the president, Mr. Abba Kyari, was also at the event.
