President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday called on Nigerians harbouring misgivings on some piece of legislation to engage the process in line with democratic practices.
President Buhari made call in Abuja while declaring open a two-day Joint Executive – Legislative Leadership Retreat held at State House Conference Centre, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The reintroduction of National Water Resources Bill 2020 in the National Assembly is currently generating worrying reaction from different parts of the country.
Critics oppose parts of the bill that vest ownership of water bodies on the federal government and the part that mandates citizens to get federal permission to drill bore holes in their homes or businesses premises.
The recently signed Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 (CAMA) in Nigeria has equally attracted criticisms from some Nigerians, especially the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) which has raised ulterior motives behind the law.
Speaking at the retreat, the President charged the populace to be patient with government and advised that whenever there’s any legislation they have misgivings about, “they should engage the process for such laws in line with democratic processes.”
“Let me also remind our fellow patriots, countrymen and women, that the process of law-making and governance are dynamic and ever evolving. I will seek their indulgence to be patient with any legislation or law which they have certain misgivings about, and engage the process for reviewing such laws in line with democratic practices.
“Our interest is sincere promotion of our collective will and aspiration to build a nation where justice, peace, and progress are the norm,” he said.
Buhari, who appreciated members of the ninth National Assembly for understanding, support and quick response to policy directions of the government, called for more synergy to consolidate on the gains recorded, particularly the ongoing effort to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years.
He said the collaboration enjoyed from the leadership of the National Assembly had made it easier for the government to set and realize development goals, and respond to changes in the economy faster like the Coronavirus pandemic that necessitated review of the 2020 budget.
According to the President, some of the gains recorded from working together also include: accelerated passage of the 2020 Budget and its review in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, timely confirmation of nominees, and passage of critical legislations by the National Assembly.
The President, who told the lawmakers that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had already streamlined its priorities to nine areas of development, and ministers had been mandated to align their targets with the bigger picture of making life better for all Nigerians, urged the legislature to align its priorities as well.
He said he had already inaugurated a National Steering Committee co-chaired by the Honourable Minister for Finance, Budget and National Planning, and Mr. Peterside Atedo with representation from the National Assembly to oversee the development of the Nigeria Agenda 2050 and Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) to succeed vision 20:2020 and the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2020.
The President said the National Steering Committee will facilitate the linkage between policy-plans and budget in a manner that will help lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within the next 10 years.
The President recommended the establishment of a Technical Working Group to synthesise the outcome of the retreat and make appropriate recommendations to the leadership of the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly in order to drive effective implementation of the resolutions or agreements reached.
Speaking, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, said the decision of the National Assembly to work with the executive very harmoniously for the benefits of Nigerians was misunderstood as mischief-makers called them “rubber stamped”.
Lawan, however, said that such appellation would not determine from working for the good of Nigerians who deserved better service, stressing that no meaningful development could be achieved in this country without understanding and harmony in the way and manner the two arms of government work.
He said: “This is the second time we will be discussing the relationship between the legislature and the executive. The first was at the ministerial retreat where we had opportunity to contribute.
