Reps To Take Action In Cutting Down Cost Of Governance – Gbajabiamila

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila on Wednesday declared that urgent steps need to be taken in cutting down government expenses.

The Speaker expressed worries that the situation where the government is unable to meet its financial demands but has to constantly rely on borrowings is not healthy.

He made the submissions during his welcome address to members of the house upon resumption from their recess, notng that there is the need to cut down on the cost of governance.

Specifically, he noted that bills seeking to establish more government agencies might have to be treated cautiosly given the rising level of government’s recurrent expenses.

The Speaker however promised that the amendment of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, as well as bills and motions that will improve ease of doing business and unlock economic potentials will be given accelerated consideration.

In his words, “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 noted.

Hon. Gbajabiamila reminded the lawmakers that the 9th National Assembly is already half way into its four-year tenure and the expectation of Nigerian voters must be met.

“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.

“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.

He added that the House will work with the Senate and the executive arm of government to actualize policies that support the growth and aspirations of young Nigerians and make the conditions of doing business easier.

“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 submitted.

Meanwhile, Senate President Ahmad Lawan has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to listen to the complaints on the indigenes of Abuja and appoint a non-career ambassador from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Lawan made the call in response to a protest by the Senator representing FCT, Philip Aduda who lamented that Buhari has so far failed to appoint an indigene of the area as an ambassador despite various appeals in the past.