President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged members of the National Assembly to work with the Executive in strengthening and growing the economy of Nigeria.
He assured of his commitment to do all within his powers to engender better life for all Nigerians.
The President, represented by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, stated this on Thursday while declaring open a two day-retreat for senators of the 10th National Assembly on Fiscal policy and Tax reforms, held at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
He noted that it was unacceptable to him that 63% of the Nigerian population, representing 84 million people formed the multi-dimensionally poor saying that he would ensure that the three percent progress made in developing the economy would be sustained.
According to him, “We will ensure life is better for all Nigerians. It is unacceptable that we are quoted as having 65 per cent of the population, 84 million people are found as multi-dimensionally poor. The antidote to this, is that, this government is committed to doing all we can to make Nigerian economy grow and achieve rapid, sustained and inclusive growth.
“I cannot do this alone, there has to be team network and of course legislators. The Senators have a key role to play.”
The president also tasked the National Assembly to be committed, as they are known for and ensure that the budget is considered, passed and signed before December 31, 2023.
Speaking earlier, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, charged colleagues to work together in ensuring that the expectations and hopes of the people who voted them into office are not betrayed, even as he explained that they will try not to work at cross-purposes with the Executive Arm.
He said the major objective of the retreat was to improve the knowledge of senators and build their technical capacity to generate concrete and consistent legislation that would promote peace and sustainable development in tandem with the renewed hope and 8-point agenda of the Tinubu/Shettima administration.
He also called for long term plan to improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the country and the “unbundling of the Federal government and amendment of some laws to that effect.”
In his welcome remarks, Prof Abubarkar Sulaiman, the organizer of the retreat and Director General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), said the retreat would strengthen measures to deepen legislature–executive relationships and address issues of insecurity, which have hampered meaningful development in the country.
