President Muhammadu Buhari has suggested why the incoming leadership of the National Assembly must cooperate with the Executive arm of government.
Mr Buhari re-elected for a second term in office said the legislature and the executive must be on the same page in order to lift Nigerians out of poverty.
He stated this when he hosted the leadership of the outgoing National Assembly to the breaking of Ramadan fast on Tuesday.
Officials of the Buhari administration has repeatedly clashed with the current legislative arm of government headed by Bukola Saraki.
While Mr Saraki oversees the affairs of the upper legislative chamber, Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives, pilots the affairs of the lower legislative chamber. The duo were present at the gathering.
Buhari who said his relationship with the 8th National Assembly was not good, said the coming 9th Assembly must partner with the executive headed by him if the needs of Nigerians mist be met.
“Your principal task is to cooperate with the Executive so that together we can fashion policies that will lift our people out of poverty and out of illiteracy,” Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman of the president was quoted by Premium Times to have said.
“I appeal to the Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members to subordinate all personal interests and ambitions to the imperative of working for the common good of our people,” he added.
Mr Saraki during the formation of the 8th National Assembly emerged Senate President against the wish of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Same scenario played out at the green chamber with Mr Dogara emerging speaker of the house.
With developments so far, the APC which has the majority of lawmakers in both chambers might not have a smooth sail in producing the leadership of the 9th assembly expected to be inaugurated next month.
Some lawmakers of the ruling party are threatening to thwart the ambition of those the APC choosed as its preferred candidates. For them to achieve this, they will need the cooperation of the opposing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
