Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has called for collaboration with the National Assembly and is committed to making life easier for Nigerians.
Declaring the event open, President Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, said his ambition, commitment and objective is to make life easier for all Nigerians.
He said the Federal Government, under his leadership, is committed to helping the Nigerian economy grow and achieve rapid, sustained and inclusive growth.
“My ambition, commitment and objective is to make life better for all Nigerians. It is unacceptable that we are quoted as having 65 percent of the population, 84 million people, who are found as multi-dimensionally poor. This government is committed to doing all we can to make the Nigerian economy grow and achieve rapid, sustained and inclusive growth. I cannot do this alone. There has to be a team network and of course legislators. The Senators have a key role to play. At this time we are considering the medium-term economic framework and fiscal sustainability programme. It is topical and timely that we should be having this retreat because after now, we will be considering the budget. I am sure that, as I am committed to you, you are also committed to maintaining the fine tradition of having the budget considered, passed and signed into law by December. It will take collaboration, teamwork and understanding of all to make all the lofty projects of this administration work.” President Tinubu said.
In his speech, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said he came along with his colleagues to Ikot-Ekpene, Akwa Ibom retreat to verify if the All Progressives Congress, APC-led federal government is on course in its election promises to the people and to ensure the Legislature and the Executive arms were not working at cross purposes.
“Today’s event is a demonstration of our commitment to walk and work with the Executive Arm in the interest of our beloved compatriots. Dust is yet to settle on the presidential election, but the President has long hit the ground running. You cut a covenant with Nigerians and stated what he hoped to do for Nigerians to renew our collective hope. Nigerians kept their part of that covenant, electing you. It is up to you to keep your part by doing what Nigerians voted for you to do,” he said.
The Senate President said the retreat, which is on fiscal policy and tax reforms, is to improve the knowledge of the lawmakers and build their technical capacity to generate concrete and consistent legislation that would promote peace and development in Nigeria.
“This convergence is 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. This convergence aims to deepen participants’ knowledge of public expenditure management, fiscal policy, and tax reforms. The doors of the Senate should be open to all Nigerians, except pessimists,” Akpabio said.
Senator Akpabio therefore reminded his colleagues of the roles of leaders who were elected to bring hope to the hopeless.
“Let us follow the plan before us. The founding fathers of our nation (Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, etc.) had and followed a plan of development, and Nigeria, in their days, occupied a place of pride in the comity of nations,” he said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, lauded the organisers of the retreat, saying that fiscal policy and reforms which the theme of the retreat focuses on are central to good national governance.
“We in the 10th House of Representatives intend to work with the Executive and stakeholders to improve the coherence of our tax system, both in terms of administration and operation. We will use legislative measures to provide incentives on tax breaks to encourage innovations and for industries that have the potential for job creation and export growth,” the Speaker said.
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umoh Eno, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi commended the Senate for finding the state conducive for the retreat and expressed the hope that gains from the brainstorming sessions will birth robust fiscal policies and tax reforms for Nigeria.
The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) is the organiser of the two-day retreat with the theme of fiscal policy and tax reforms.
The opening ceremonies of the retreat featured a musical interlude and a display by cultural groups from Akwa Ibom State.
