Reps to scale down bills on establishment of new agencies over rising cost of governance, depletion of revenue

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, on Wednesday, expressed grave concern over the government’s inability to meet its obligations in each appropriation year, and the need to prune.

Hon Gbajabiamila who gave the charge while welcoming members to the 2021 legislative session, tasked members on the need to be more circumspect particularly on the bills seeking to establish new agencies, considering the exploding recurrent cost of governance.

Rather, he stressed the need to prioritise amendment of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, as well as bills and motions that will improve ease of doing business and unlock economic potential by stripping away restrictive regulation and end predatory regulatory practices that deprive our young people the opportunity to conquer new frontiers.

The Speaker who warned that the 9th Assembly will not be spared from the harsh judgment of history if the current Assembly fails to meet the commitments made to God and Nigerians said: “At a time of reduced revenue, with preexisting and worsening infrastructure deficits requiring significant investments, we cannot afford to keep establishing more institutions that impose a permanent liability on government income. I am not unmindful of the realities that often necessitate such legislation, yet we cannot ignore the facts that lie before us.

“Let us work together to reform and strengthen the institutions already in existence, and remove those no longer fit for purpose. I believe most sincerely that this is the pathway to a legacy that we can all be proud of,” the Speaker stressed.

Hon. Gbajabiamila who reiterated the need for measurable achievement in the joint task of nation-building observed that “in a few months, we will mark the halfway point of our tenure in the 9th House of Representatives. We still have a lot of work to do. We have obligations to the people who elected us to serve them. And the fraught circumstances of the previous year will not suffice to spare us the harsh judgment of history if we fail to meet the commitments we have made to God and country.

ALSO READ: Tributes as UNILAG holds special senate session for late VC, Ibidapo-Obe

“The promises we have made and the fierce urgency of this moment compel us to do more, do better, and do so with haste that reflects our understanding of the challenges and promise of this moment in history and our determination to succeed against all odds. We are called to take legislative action to unleash the spirit of invention and our people’s untiring industry.

“We have to do this for this generation to thrive here at home as they have done everywhere else in the world where they have access to the resources and infrastructure they need to succeed.

“Honourable colleagues, we begin this New Year with a renewed commitment to legislative action that drives the course of progress and brings us closer to achieving the highest aspirations we hold for our nation. We begin with renewed determination to achieve better oversight of government spending priorities through a collaborative effort with the executive arm of government and with civil society. And we remain dedicated to the lofty, yet clear ambitions we articulated in our Legislative Agenda when we resumed in the 9th Assembly,” the Speaker urged.

In his assessment of the feats achieved so far in the past 18 months of the current Assembly, Hon. Gbajabiamila scored the House high, “despite the unfortunate and unforeseeable difficulties we faced last year, we managed to put points on the board.

“We passed meaningful and potentially transformative legislation including the Nigerian Police Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (Amendment) Bill, Physically Challenged (Empowerment) Bill, Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act (Amendment) Bill, and the Companies and Allied Matters Act, amongst many others.

“We also considered and passed the National Health Insurance Scheme Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, National Transport Commission Bill, and the Public Procurement Act, No. 14 of 2007 (Amendment) Bill. Some of those bills have been passed in the Senate and signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. We will work with the Senate to achieve expeditious concurrence and passage into law on other outstanding priority Bills.

“In the 2021 legislative year, we will focus the attention of the House of Representatives on bills and motions that improve ease of doing business and unlock economic potential by stripping away restrictive regulation and ending predatory regulatory practices that deprive our young people the opportunity to conquer new frontiers. In this age of technology and innovation, of daring and enterprise, we cannot risk implementing policies that handicap our ability as a nation to participate in new markets and profit from emerging industries,” the Speaker noted.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

Reps to scale down bills on establishment of new agencies over rising cost of governance, depletion of revenue

More Nigerians Continue To Test Positive, Die Of COVID-19 Complications ― Analysis

More Nigerians have continued to test positive for COVID-19 and more deaths have been recorded from its complications, Tribune Online analysis shows.Reps to scale down bills on establishment of new agencies over rising cost of governance, depletion of revenue

However, Nigeria recorded fewer COVID-19 infections and deaths when compared to the previous week. It also recorded increased recoveries during the same period…Reps to scale down bills on establishment of new agencies over rising cost of governance, depletion of revenue

Reps to scale down bills on establishment of new agencies over rising cost of governance, depletion of revenue