The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila have congratulated Nigerians amid the New Year celebrations.
They shared their New Year messages in separate statements on Saturday, saying the Ninth National Assembly remained unwavering in the implementation of its Legislative Agenda and kept faith with Nigerians.
Lawan appreciated and commended the people for having faith in their country and for always supporting efforts at building a virile nation.
The Senate President also urged Nigerians to seize the opportunities provided to take active part in the ongoing electoral process.
Meanwhile, Gbajabiamila said he is optimistic about the opportunities and possibilities that lie ahead and urged Nigerians to remain resolute and determined as a people.
He noted that 2023 is a defining year for Nigeria and urged citizens to “be united and speak with one voice.”
See the Senate President and Speaker’s full statements below:
We have kept faith with the Nigerian people, Senate President says in New Year Message
***urges Nigerians to take active part in electoral process
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said in his New Year Message that the Ninth National Assembly has remained unwavering in the implementation of its Legislative Agenda and kept faith with Nigerians.
Lawan appreciated and commended the people for having faith in their country and for always supporting efforts at building a virile nation.
The Senate President also urged Nigerians to seize the opportunities provided to take active part in the ongoing electoral process.
Lawan said the Electoral Act 2022 had ignited hope in the system and heightened expectations about the forthcoming general elections.
The full text of the Senate President’s 2023 New Year Message reads:
“I join fellow Nigerians in the joyful celebrations of this season with the great hope of a happy and prosperous 2023.
“As the year 2022 recedes into history, like any other year in history, we should thank Almighty God for the blessings and challenges of today, and for the hope of a better tomorrow.
“We also appreciate and commend our citizens for having faith in our nation and for always supporting efforts at building a virile nation.
“The ninth National Assembly has been a very active participant in this process of nation building.
“At our inception in 2019, we set out a robust Legislative Agenda to advance our collective aspirations as a nation and make positive impacts in the lives of our people. A senate that works for Nigerians. We have remained unwavering in our commitment to the Agenda.
“It is less than six months to the end of this Assembly. I am proud to say that all of us have kept faith with the Nigerian people as their representatives.
“The ninth Assembly has been the breaker of many legislative jinxes in this Fourth Republic, having recorded breakthroughs in many areas of our national legislative environment that had defied the interventions of previous Assemblies.
“First and foremost, we have enhanced stability in governance through productive cross-party collaboration with the other arms of government, particularly the Executive. This has yielded fruits in the unprecedented number of quality Bills passed by the National Assembly and duly signed into law by the President.
“Some of the most critical of such Bills that have been signed into law include the Deep Offshore and inland Basin Production Sharing Contract (amendment) Act, 2019, Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, Nigeria Police Reform Act, 2020, Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, and Electoral Act, 2022, just to mention a few. These are critical legislative interventions relevant to the promotion of good governance in our dear nation.
“For instance, the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill 2022 has rekindled interest in political participation in our country and raised confidence in our electoral process. We passed this Bill early enough and with some innovations to guarantee better conduct of our elections especially beginning from the 2023 elections.
“We were also able to reset our financial years to make our budget cycle stable and predictable. This change has helped immensely in the implementation of projects and programmes, as well as in general performance of the national budgets. This is one legacy of the ninth National Assembly that we have sustained since 2019, as reflected again, in the passage of the 2023 Appropriation Bill on Wednesday, 28th December, 2022.
“I am immensely proud that the new Electoral Act has ignited fresh hope in the system and heightened expectations about the forthcoming general elections.
“In addition, we have provided every possible support to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to successfully conduct credible polls and we will continue to do so until that goal is accomplished.
“The ninth National Assembly will keep providing the necessary legislative interventions for good governance till the end of its tenure in June, 2023. I urge all of us Nigerians to take active part in the electoral process, towards achieving our collective goal of good governance for national prosperity and unity.
“I wish you all a happy and prosperous 2023.”
Signed:
Ola Awoniyi
Special Adviser(Media)
to President of the SenateSaturday, 31st December, 2022
Press Statement from the Office of the Speaker, House of Representatives
December 31, 2022Gbajabiamila greets Nigerians at New Year
…says 2023 is a defining year
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has congratulated Nigerians for witnessing the New Year 2023.
The Speaker said the year 2023 will be significant for Nigerians, being the year that citizens will elect new leaders to pilot the affairs of the country.
Gbajabiamila said he is optimistic about the opportunities and possibilities that lie ahead and urged Nigerians to remain resolute and determined as a people.
He noted that 2023 is a defining year for Nigeria, which is why the citizens should be united and speak with one voice.
The Speaker wished Nigerians success individually and collectively in 2023, calling for prayers for successful elections.
Signed:
Lanre Lasisi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria.