8th National Assembly most productive since 1999 ― Group

Arewa Online Publishers’ Forum said on Tuesday that the 8th National Assembly is the most productive since the return of democracy to the country in 1999.

The Forum, which presented some awards of excellence to key leaders of the 8^th National Assembly, said that the Assembly remains the most productive despite intimidation and harassment.

National Chairman of the Forum, Mordecai Sunday Ibrahim, stated this when he presented the group’s Shining Light of Honour Award to Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Senator Shehu Sani, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe and Senator Kabir Garba Marafa.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Sanni Onogun, quoted the Forum as saying that it unanimously resolved to honour Saraki, Dogara and the three Senators to show appreciation and recognition of the work of the 8th National Assembly “in defence of democracy and the independence of the legislature.”

The statement quoted Ibrahim as saying: “You will agree with me that notwithstanding distractions that the leadership of both chambers of the 8th National Assembly faced, they were able to provide quality leadership that culminated in landmark legislation, which made the 8th National Assembly the most productive since 1999.

“It will be recalled that Senate President and the Speaker at various times suffered serious distractions, subtle harassment and intimidation for their loyalty and commitment to make the National Assembly a true parliament, representing the Nigerian people.

“Their unwavering loyalty and commitment to the Federal Republic of Nigeria provided decisive, purposeful and effective leadership that inspired most senators and members to equally put in their best through quality and patriotic contributions at plenary and committee levels that culminated into landmark legislation.

“As a matter of fact, but for the decisive and effective leadership provided by the President of the Senate and the Honourable Speaker, Nigeria’s fragile democracy would have been turned into a democratic dictatorship.”

The statement also quoted the Forum chairman as lamenting the failure of some lawmakers to get re-elected because they were seen as fighting a populist cause.

He said: “Nigerians are living witnesses and are proud of the majority of the members of the 8th National Assembly for resisting sustained blackmail, intimidation and temptation by the executive to become its rubber stamp.”

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The statement also quoted the Senate President, Bukola Saraki as having thanked the leadership of the Forum for the recognition, adding that the award would further encourage the parliament to defend democracy and pass legislation where the interests of the people would remain paramount.

Saraki also stated that the National Assembly would continue to defend the nation’s democracy as well as its own independence, “since a weak parliament can only make for a weak democracy.”

Chairman House Committee on Media and Publicity, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, who received the award on behalf of Dogara – said that the parliament would continue to work for the betterment of the generality of Nigerians.