The Senate President, David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives have urged newly elected members of the House of Representatives and Senate to put the country first, as they prepare to join the 8th Assembly in the law making processes.
At the opening of the induction course for new legislators in Abuja on Monday, Senator Mark told the new and re-elected lawmakers that “Nigeria is still confronted by challenges that can only be surmounted with a unified efforts”.
Senator Mark, who is also re-elected, said that the task ahead of the lawmakers required that party differences should be set aside to move the nation forward.
Promoting Participatory Government
Statistics from the Institute of Legislative Studies showed that re-election of lawmakers recorded an all time low of 16 per cent from 30 per cent in the past years.
With up to 80 per cent new Senators and about 90 in the House of Representatives, the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, said that promoting participatory government was key for good governance.
The Speaker and the Governor-elect of Sokoto State said now that Nigeria had proven doomsday predictions of division wrong, it was time to promote national integration for inclusive growth.
The induction certificate course for new legislators is organised by the National Institute of Legislative Studies.
It is aimed at acquainting the new legislators with legislative procedures and practice in the National Assembly and prepare them for the task of lawmaking for the next four years.
The induction course will lasts for four days after which the lawmakers are expected to be set for the 8th Assembly come May 29.
It is expected that major issues such as those relating to security, education, health and power will be foremost on the lawmakers’ agenda.
