Senate president Ahmed Lawan says during his four years of presiding over the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly, the lawmakers worked for the national interest of Nigerians. The Senate leader made this remark during his farewell speech yesterday with the Senate press corp in Abuja. Although some section Nigerians have criticized the 9th National Assembly leadership, some even described it as a “rubber stamp” of lawmakers for accepting everything that came from the executive.
Contrary to some public opinion, Lawan said under his leadership, the red chamber ensured that the executive arm of government worked for the masses, adding that former president Buhari signed over 100 bills as a testimony to their harmonious relationship.
In his statement “Just like we in the ninth senate said that we worked for the national interest, this senate press corps has also worked for the national interest. We can’t ask for a better senate press corps than this one.”
“You reported those things that we have done and one thing I can say here is that you remain factual, you remain truthful in reporting whatever happened in the Senate.
The senate president added, “For us and particularly for me, this ninth national assembly, no matter what anybody will call it, we have done what we should do to ensure service delivery by the executive arm of government to Nigerians.
Lawan disclosed that former president Buhari signed about 112 bills during his second tenure in office when he was the senate president.
He revealed that many of the bills were very crucial where some were in the interest of the economy to fix the oil industry on track, while others were for the social, environmental, or for reform of the electoral process.
He said most of the major stakeholders in the corridor of power were very happy with the relationship, saying under him, the red chamber would be remembered for its legislation, representation, and oversight.
“This is an opportunity for us to commend you for telling Nigerians about us and what we do here exactly the way it should be,” Lawan concluded.
