About one week after President Muhammadu Buhari lamented that relations between the executive and the 8th National Assembly were not the best, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara says the House under him gave the President maximum support.
The Speaker made this known in Abuja when he received the Euro Knowledge Award in recognition of his exemplary leadership which was conferred on him last month at the United Kingdom’s Parliament and another one by Nigeria’s Federal government for his contribution to the passage of Ease Of Doing Business Bills in Nigeria.
He explained that the House gave speedy consideration and passage to legislation and other requests forwarded by the President that would fast-track implementation of the administration’s policies and plans.
“We have done exceptionally well. It is on record that this has been the most productive National Assembly ever, as well as unparalleled House in the history of the House of Representatives.
“For the Ease of Doing Business, anyone who thinks we have not supported Government enough in the bid to create a conducive business environment to attract better investment into Nigeria should check what we have done in the area of the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
“There were times when we ensured that within days or weeks, we passed these Bills that were required to jumpstart this process to bring Nigeria out of recession and prosper. This made Nigeria jump about 24 places in the Global Index of the World ranking of nations in the Ease of Doing Business. Words like these only spur one to do his best, we will continue to do our best in the interest of our country and of its people in whatever position we are.
“I want to specifically say that I am deeply indebted to the entire Membership of the 8th Assembly, they made all this happen, so I dedicate these Awards to the ever wonderful Members of the 8th Assembly.”
President Buhari had told the leadership of the 8th NASS last week that he was envisaging a more cordial relationship with the 9th Assembly as the relations with the 8th NASS frustrated his quest to deliver on his mandate.
