Let me welcome the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House
of Representatives, their Deputies, and Leadership of the National
Assembly the Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of the House
of Representatives, the Acting Clerk of National Assembly, the Senior
Management Staff of the National Assembly, Party Leaders and all guests
to this dinner.
2.This is first, to mark the 2016 Democracy Day,
and further to appreciate the National Assembly Leadership, Membership
and Management for the great work they have done in considering and
approving as thought fit several Bills and measures submitted by the
Executive and those bills originated by the legislatures, which have
enabled the Government to function according to law.
3.Let me
again appreciate the work of the National Assembly for the painstaking
and consensual work they did with the Executive to deliver the 2016
Appropriation Act. It is on record that this is one rare occasion where
the Appropriation Act was Assented to with the schedule i.e. the
details. This is a good start in our journey of CHANGE.
4.I seize
this opportunity to please draw attention to the under listed Bills
which have been Submitted to the National Assembly and appeal for
accelerated consideration and passage, namely:
1. Bills for Acts
for domestication of agreements for avoidance of double taxation
between Nigeria and South Korea, Spain and Sweden respectively.
2. Federal Capital Territory Appropriation Bill, 2016.
3. Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Bill 2016.
4. Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill, 2016.
5. Statutory Budget of the Niger – Delta Development Commission, 2016.
5. I am conscious that on June 9, 2016, the National Assembly will
complete one Legislative year. May I appeal to you to consider and pass
these submitted Bills, particularly the Statutory Budget of the Federal
Capital Territory, the Niger – Delta Development Commission Budget and
the budget of Statutory Corporations. These bodies cannot execute their
Statutory mandate nor incur expenditure for the year unless their
budgets are approved by the National Assembly.
6.I hereby re –
state the commitment of this administration to observe the principles of
Separation of Powers which defines and delineates the functions and
powers of each arm of Government. Thus far we in the executive have
restricted ourselves to our Constitutional roles.
7.Therefore I,
as the President, and we as the Executive arm of Government will not
interfere in the functions, functioning and process of the Legislature
nor the Judiciary. In the same vein, I urge other arms of Government to
please appraise and ensure that each action conceived and taken by it is
in strict accord with its constitutionally limited powers.
8.I
urge you as Legislators and the Legislature to take out time and
communicate with your constituents and other Nigerians the policies of
the Government which are based on Laws approved by the National
Assembly.
9.I look forward to your one Legislative year on the
9th of June 2016. I send the same greetings to members of all the State
Houses of Assembly in the country for completing the first Legislative
year as we look forward to more active and engaging partnership.
Thank you.